ALOR STAR: "My late husband instinctively used his left hand to shield me and our eight-month-old child when he saw a burning tree branch falling towards our car," said Nur Hafizah Ahmad Zamri, 25.
Nur Hafizah is the wife of Mohd Robbil Adam Mohd Rizal, 27, who died after the Proton Saga BLM car they were in was struck by a burning tree branch on Jalan Hutan Kampung, Kampung Bohor, here today.
In the incident at 1.15pm, the victim was driving the car with his wife and their child, Hawa Raisya Aulia Mohd Robbil Adam, eight months old, along with the victim's sister-in-law, Nur Musfirah Ahmad Zamri, 33, and her niece, Nur Safiera Huda Muhamad Saifuddin, 13.
They were believed to be on their way home after enjoying lunch with the victim's in-laws at Hutan Kampung, each in their own separate vehicles.
"The three of us, along with my sister-in-law and her child, were in one car and had just left the restaurant when we saw a burning tree branch on the roadside.
"Before I could even mention the burning tree, the branch fell directly onto the car where my husband was driving, and he shouted 'Allahuakbar'.
"My husband managed to shield me and our baby daughter, Hawa Raisya Aulia, with one hand," she said when met at the Forensic Department of Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital (HSB) here today.
As a result of the incident, she said, the car skidded and collided with another car.
She then held her child tightly and took her out as soon as the car stopped.
"At that time, my husband was unconscious in the driver's seat before it was confirmed that he had passed away.
"I only suffered injuries to my hand, while our child, my sister-in-law, and her niece were not injured," she said.
Meanwhile, Kota Setar District Police Chief, Assistant Commissioner Ahmad Shukri Mat Akhir, confirmed receiving a report on the incident and the case is being investigated under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987.
He said the accident is believed to have occurred after a tree branch broke due to a fire and fell across the path of the car, causing the driver to be unable to avoid it.
"As a result of the incident, the Proton Saga skidded into the opposite lane and collided with a Perodua Myvi," he said.