| James Kon |
A 42-YEAR-OLD local man, Jasmin bin Haji Timbang, on Sunday night sustained serious injuries after he got involved in a car accident with another vehicle in the Lumapas area.
Jasmin, who was driving a compact vehicle, is currently receiving treatment at the Intensive Care Unit of Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha (RIPAS) Hospital.
The driver of the other vehicle – a mid-size luxury crossover SUV – Chin Teck Ming, a permanent resident aged 50 years old, escaped from the accident with only slight injuries and is also being treated at RIPAS Hospital.
Chin is believed to have been driving under the influence of alcohol following initial investigations by the Royal Brunei Police Force (RBPF).
These details were revealed by ASP Nurol Faezah binti Mohd Faisal Al-Sufri, Assistant District Crime Officer for Brunei-Muara and Insp Hamdan bin Mantul, Officer-in-Charge of the Kampong Ayer Police Station during a press conference at the Central Police Station yesterday.
ASP Nurol Faezah highlighted that the RBPF is sharing information and investigation findings on the accident to address queries on the incident and to resolve wayward speculations on social media. Insp Hamdan said the Kampong Ayer Police Station received a distress call on the accident at around 11.38pm Sunday night.
The mishap occurred at the sharp turn at Jalan Kampong Lumapas leading to Junjongan. No government property was damaged in the accident.
The case is being investigated under Section 26 (1) of the Road Traffic Act, ie “driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs”, which carries a punishment of a $10,000 fine and two years’ imprisonment for anyone found guilty.
Amidst the backdrop of the alarming spate of road accidents in the country this year, the RBPF is urging motorists to exercise extra caution while driving in wet weather, refrain from using mobile phones and fasten their seatbelts while driving, and adhere to road traffic regulations and the speed limit.
Another recent accident on February 17 involving two cars took the life of a 13-year-old local girl. The tragic incident took place at Jalan Estate Gadong. The vehicle which hit the car carrying the girl was heading in the opposite direction.
Its driver, Victor Chiuh Vui Ted, a 20-year-old permanent resident, was also believed to be driving under the influence of alcohol.
The driver is also being investigated under Section 26 (1) “driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs” of the Road Traffic Act – which carries a punishment of a $10,000 fine and two years’ imprisonment, if found guilty – and under Section 27 (1) “driving dangerously and causing death” of Chapter 68 of the Road Traffic Act, which carries a penalty of a fine of $20,000 and imprisonment of seven years.