KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 11 — A 39-year-old man died after the Proton Wira he was driving, which was carrying sacks of rice, skidded and overturned into a ditch along the East-West Highway in Kampung Batu 9, Batang Merbau in Tanah Merah, Kelantan, last night.

Kemahang Fire and Rescue Station operations commander Senior Fire Officer I Mat Nuri Muhamad said the department received an emergency call via NG999 at 11.44pm, according to Sinar Harian.

He said firefighters arrived at the scene at 11.50pm and found the Proton Wira overturned in the ditch.

“The Malay male driver, aged 39, was trapped in the driver’s seat.

“Firefighters used hydraulic cutting equipment to extricate the victim before handing him over to medical personnel,” he said in a statement today.

Mat Nuri said the victim was pronounced dead at the scene and his remains were handed over to police for further action.

He said the operation, which involved five firefighters, ended at 12.28am.