KOTA KINABALU, Dec 1 — Three people were killed when the car they were travelling in crashed into an express bus and caused both vehicles to plunge into a ravine along Jalan Kiau-Ranau here this evening, according to the Sabah Fire and Rescue Department.

Department director Nordin Pauzi said that the two men and one woman in a Proton vehicle were travelling from Kota Kinabalu to Ranau when it collided head on with the bus that was going in the opposite direction, causing both vehicles to careen into the 200m deep ravine.

“All three passengers in the car were crushed and died at the scene of the accident. The driver and passengers in the bus, believed to total 23 people, are suffering from various injuries but all were rescued and sent to nearby hospitals in Ranau, Kota Belud and Tuaran,” he said in a statement here today.

He said the department was notified of the accident at 3.47pm and rescue personnel reached the scene at 4.45pm.

Advertisement

Personnel from the department were assisted by a Special Tactical Operation the Rescue (Storm) team of about 75 people, as well as by other firemen from four districts.

At least four ambulances and a team from the emergency medical rescue service were also deployed to provide medical assistance to the victims.

Nordin said that the rescue operations struggled to retrieve injured victims who were stuck in the wreckage deep in the ravine and had to use a high angle rescue technique.

Advertisement

“The rescue team used stretchers, ropes to carry the victims and special hydraulic equipments to cut open the vehicles to get to the victims,” he said.