BAYAN LEPAS: A Form Four student, who is substitute runner in the 'Penang Amateur Athletic Association (PAAA) Annual Round The Island Relay, broke both his legs after he was involved in a pre-dawn accident today.
The teenager, 16, was the pillion rider of a motorcycle, which was rammed from behind by a car at Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah here during the 4.10am mishap.
The motorcycle rider identified as Lee Foo Beng, 51, who is also one of the marshals for the marathon, sustained injuries on his head.
The impact of the crash was strong that the teenager and Lee were thrown off the motorcycle and landed on the other side of the road.
The car, meanwhile, had skidded and crashed into a road divider after ramming into the rear of the motorcycle.
Lee and the teenager were rushed to the Penang Hospital here for treatment while the driver of the car, 34, escaped the incident unhurt.
Southwest district police deputy chief Superintendent Jefri Md Zin said the car driver has been arrested to facilitate investigation into the accident under Section 44 of the Road Transports Act 1987.
“We are checking whether the car driver was driving under the influence of any substances or alcohol during the incident,” he said.
Penang Youth and Sports Committee chairman Soon Lip Chee view the incident seriously and that the marathon event was not recognised by the state government.
He also called on the event organiser to provide all necessary assistance to the victims of the accident.
“I hope organisers of future events would continue to place the safety of participants as priority to avoid recurrence of the same incident,” he said.