KOTA KINABALU, Nov 20 (Bernama) -- The Sabah State Railway will conduct an internal investigation regarding an accident involving a train service that resulted in the death of a woman and her 11-year-old son seriously injured near Kampung Petagas in Putatan near here yesterday afternoon.
According to a statement issued by the Corporate Management Unit of Sabah State Railway Department today, the investigation will be conducted through a board of inquiry that has been established.
“The Sabah State Railway Department has also made a report at Putatan police station regarding the accident made by the locomotive driver who was on duty during the accident for further action and investigation,” said the statement.
In the accident, the victim Lena Gabun, 41, died while her son was seriously injured after being hit by a train from Putatan heading to Kota Kinabalu while crossing the track in front of Kampung Petagas.
The department also informed that the train service involved in the incident was PU502 from Beaufort Station to Sembulan Station, which departed from Beaufort Station at 11 am and arrived at Putatan Station at 12.54 pm before continuing to Kota Kinabalu a minute later.
The department said while approaching the closed level crossing at Sekolah Kebangsaan Petagas, the locomotive driver on duty sounded the horn as usual and at a distance of about 150 metres, he saw two civilians who were trying to cross the railway tracks at that location.
“The locomotive driver braked immediately. The two civilians did not show any immediate reaction,” according to the statement.
The department also said the PU502 train service continued with police permission at 2.40 pm, with approximately 90 passengers and no reports of injuries received after a two-hour delay.
Meanwhile, Sabah State Railway officials expressed condolences and deepest sympathy to the family of the victims in the accident, besides taking initiatives to ease their burden.
-- BERNAMA
