Police identify driver after car plunges off Penang Bridge following collision
21 January, 2019
The identity of the driver of a SUV vehicle involved in an accident at KM4 of the Penang Bridge before it plunged into the sea in the early hours on Sunday (Jan 20) has been identified as 20-year-old Moey Yun Peng.
Seberang Perai Tengah district police chief ACP Nik Ros Azhan Nik Abdul Hamid said the owner of the Mazda CX-5 vehicle had lodged a police report at 5.00pm on Sunday after his 20-year-old son, who was driving the vehicle, failed to return to the family home in Butterworth.
“The 63-year-old man lodged a police report after his son failed to return home and he received information from his son’s friend that the victim was believed to have been involved in an accident at the Penang Bridge before the vehicle plunged into the sea.
According to the father, the victim was a student of a private college and lives in Taman Kempas, Butterworth, said Nik Ros Azhan.
Nik Ros Azhan said that as of now, three independent witnesses and two friends had turned up to assist in the investigations into the accident.
A search-and-rescue operation was underway in Penang after the car plunged into the sea following a collision with another vehicle on the Penang Bridge.
The car was heading towards the mainland when it collided with another vehicle.
Perai Fire and Rescue chief Azlan Hassan said they were alerted to the incident at 2.35am and found the second vehicle badly damaged.
"Rescuers found a Toyota Vios badly damaged but its driver only lightly injured," he told reporters. "We have not been able to ascertain the make of the other car and status of its occupants."
A search-and-rescue operation is underway with the assistance of the marine police, he added.
Witness Azrul said he was fishing from one of the bridge's pillars with a friend when he saw the car fall into the sea.
"We saw the car falling into the sea but everything happened so fast and it was dark," he said. "We shone our torchlights where it fell but did not see anyone."
Azrul and his friend tried to find the victims but were unsuccessful. They then alerted marine police officers who were patrolling the area.