Elderly Man Missing After Car Found in River

SUNGAI PETANI: A search and rescue (SAR) operation is ongoing for an elderly man believed to have plunged into a river with his car along Jalan Lubuk Segintah-Lubuk Kawah near Bukit Selambau at about 1am on Saturday.

Kuala Muda district police chief ACP Hanyan Ramlan said preliminary investigations indicated that the victim was believed to have been driving his yellow Proton Wira from Jalan Kuala Ketil towards Felda Teloi Timur when the incident occurred.

He said the Kuala Muda district police headquarters traffic enquiry office received a call from a member of the public at about 1am on Saturday, reporting a road accident involving a car that had skidded off the road and plunged into the river.

“The victim has been identified as Mat Yusof Hashim, 77, from Jalan Masjid, Felda Teloi Timur, who is believed to have been driving the vehicle.

“Preliminary investigations found that upon reaching the scene, the victim is believed to have lost control of the vehicle, causing it to skid off the road and plunge into the river,” he said.

Hanyan said the victim was initially believed to have been submerged with the vehicle.

However, after the car was lifted from the river using a crane, an inspection found that the elderly man was not inside.

“The Fire and Rescue Department has therefore continued its search and rescue operation in the surrounding river area,” he said.

He said the vehicle sustained extensive damage, including to the front bumper, bonnet, left and right doors, as well as the front and rear windscreens.

The vehicle was taken to the Kuala Muda Traffic Police Station for further action.

Hanyan said the investigating officer had contacted the victim’s next of kin.

Police also urged anyone with information regarding the incident to come forward or contact the nearest police station.

Sinar Harian