KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 6 ― A routine jog turned fatal for Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia chief executive officer Tetsuya Oda, 49, who died in an accident on Thursday.
Oda, a well-known figure in the motoring industry, was hit by a one-tonne lorry at 6.50am at the Sri Hartamas traffic lights heading towards Galeria Hartamas.
Kuala Lumpur traffic police chief ACP Rusli Mohd Noor confirmed the incident, saying the 28-year-old newspaper transporter who drove the lorry had surrendered to the police.
Rusli said initial investigations revealed the driver was coming out from the left lane when the traffic light turned green.
"The victim was crossing the road at that time and did not notice the lorry," he said, adding that the lorry driver underwent alcohol and drug tests and had a clean bill.
"Oda was rushed to the Universiti Malaya Medical Centre by an ambulance but was pronounced dead at 9.35am. He had severe head and chest injuries."
Mitsubishi Corp public relations spokesman Junko Hattori said Oda's family in Tokyo had been informed and they were expected to arrive today to claim his body.
"Oda's final resting place will be in Tokyo," Hattori said.
Oda had been residing in Malaysia for more than four years, living alone in Almaspuri condominium in Mont Kiara.
He is survived by two children and his wife who was a former employee of Mitsubishi Motors in Tokyo.
His family often visited him and many in the motoring industry and media expressed their shock on Facebook.
A Facebook user, ChipsYap PS said: " Oda-san was a nice guy who we always enjoyed being with. From the time he took the helm at Mitsubishi, he’s been pushing the company forward to new heights and was instrumental in starting local assembly of Mitsubishi models again.
"It was good for Mitsubishi to have such a person and from what we heard, the staff really liked his leadership and he inspired loyalty. The company has lost a great boss, the auto industry has lost a good guy and the motoring media has lost a good friend."
