By Aida Aziz
GERIK: A 41-year-old man working as an assistant engineer with the Public Works Department (JKR) was killed after a telecommunication cable came loose and struck him at KM71.4 of the Kuala Kangsar-Gerik-Pengkalan Hulu road on Saturday.
Gerik District Police Chief Supt. Abdul Samad Othman said police received information about the incident at 2pm.
He said preliminary investigations found that the incident is believed to have occurred at about 1.30pm while road resurfacing works were being carried out by workers from a concessionaire responsible for road maintenance.
“During the works, a lorry carrying a load of tar raised its dump body to unload the material onto the road surface.
“After unloading the tar, the lorry’s dump body became entangled with a Telekom Malaysia (TM) cable crossing the road as it was being lowered back into its original position.
“This caused the cable to be pulled, loosened and left hanging at a lower level than its original height.
“Based on preliminary investigations at the scene, before the cable could be removed, a Hino trailer carrying a load of rice harvesting machinery was travelling from Gerik towards Kuala Kangsar when it passed through the area,” he said.
Abdul Samad added that the upper part of the trailer’s load became entangled with the TM cable, pulling it until it detached from its pole.
“The detached cable is believed to have struck the victim, causing head injuries. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
“The victim’s body was taken to the Forensic Unit of Gerik Hospital for a post-mortem,” he said.
The trailer was subsequently seized and sent to the Computerised Vehicle Inspection Centre (Puspakom) for inspection.
The case is being investigated under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987.
Police also advised all road users to exercise caution, comply with safety instructions and remain alert to their surroundings, particularly when travelling through road maintenance work zones.
