TAWAU: Bad road conditions saw Fire and Rescue Department personnel here having to hitch a ride on a civilian's four-wheel-drive (4WD) in responding to a road accident here.
After receiving an alert from the Kalabakan volunteer fire brigade at 4.05pm yesterday of a road mishap involving a 10-tonne of lorry at Luasung Jln Imbak Canyon Kalabakan, Estate Luasung Kalabakan, eight personnel from the Tawau Fire and Rescue Station were dispatched to the scene, 84 kilometres away from the station.
"However, the Fire Rescue Tender (FRT) machinery and Emergency Medical Rescue Services (EMRS) van were having a tough time reaching the location due to the muddy road.
"While waiting for assistance from the Fire and Rescue 4WD vehicle to reach the location, the team took the initiative of hitching a ride on a 4WD vehicle to go to the accident site," said a statement.
It is learned that the personnel were ferried by the civilian's vehicle for about 50 kilometres through the narrow and muddy road.
Upon reaching the accident site, the truck was found to have skidded on its own and overturned on the road shoulder.
A 50-year-old man, identified as Jamaludin Raga, was removed from the vehicle and pronounced dead by the police.
The operation ended at 7.35pm.