MIRI, Sept 14 — A 45-year-old man died after the bulldozer he was operating went out of control, causing him to fall and become trapped under its tracks in a horrific mishap in Long Seridan, Marudi yesterday afternoon.

Following information from the police, the Marudi fire station deployed a four-person team to the location about 261km away.

It took firefighters more than seven hours to arrive at 9.49pm at the remote location due to the rough, slippery, and pothole-riddled logging road.

Operation commander senior fire officer I Erec Unyi said when they reached the scene, a medical assistant from Long Seridan Clinic had already arrived and confirmed the victim’s death.

The victim was identified as Mancha Lingan from Rumah Lingan Ulu Sangan, Tatau.

After an initial assessment, firefighters attempted to extricate the victim but did not succeed.

“Following discussions with auxiliary police personnel at the scene, we sought assistance from a mechanic of Shin Yang company, who used wielding gas and oxygen equipment to remove the bulldozer’s crawler track chain to facilitate the extrication,” Bomba said in a statement.

After managing to extricate the victim from under the vehicle, the body was handed over to the auxiliary police for further action and transported to Marudi Hospital.

Marudi police chief DSP Nor Aizan Mohd Jamil said the case is being investigated under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 for causing death by reckless or dangerous driving.

He said police are tracing witnesses, recording statements from those involved, and have impounded the vehicle involved at the Marudi Police Station for further investigation. — The Borneo Post