Pedestrian dies, woman feared drowned after car plunges into river

PEKAN - A pedestrian died while a woman is missing, believed to have drowned, after a car crashed and plunged into the river at Jalan Nenasi - Rompin near Merchong, here today.

The pedestrian, a man, died on the spot when hit by the car which went out of control before plunging into the river at about 9.47am. The missing woman and another man were the occupants of the car when the incident happened.

Pahang Malaysia Fire and Rescue Service (JBPM) public relations officer said eight personnel from the Nenasi fire department (BBP) were ordered to the scene after receiving an emergency call.

“The Operations Commander reported the accident involving a car with two victims crashing into the pedestrian before plunging into the river.

“The driver of the vehicle was a man who was safe, suffering light injuries while the woman had fallen into the river along with the car.

“It was understood that the victim had escaped from the car, but was swept away by the current,” the officer said in a statement on Saturday.

The officer said the man’s body was sent to the Pekan Hospital forensic unit for autopsy.

The officer also added the search and rescue (SAR) operations were launched to track the missing victim.

“The SAR operations will be done in the river perimeter with the aid of five personnel from the Kuantan BBP water rescue team (PPDA) as well as three personnel from Rompin BBP along with rescue boats,” the officer said.