Man nabbed for driving van against traffic, causing multi-vehicle accident in Ampang

AMPANG - The police have arrested a man who drove a van against the flow of traffic, causing an accident involving five vehicles at Pasar Pekan Ampang, here, on Saturday.

Ampang Jaya district police chief Assistant Commissioner Mohd Azam Ismail said that the department was alerted to a viral video on social media showing the van driver attempting to ram into a pedestrian in front of a restaurant.

"Preliminary investigations revealed that the incident occurred at 12:14pm on Saturday.

"It is believed that the accident happened when the van, driven by the suspect, fled after colliding with a car along Jalan Ampang.

"Upon reaching the scene, the van, which was driving against the traffic, collided with four other cars on the left and right sides of the road before fleeing through the road behind the Pekan Ampang shop building," he said in a statement on Sunday.

Mohd Azam stated that the accident resulted in damage to all the vehicles involved.

"No injuries were reported in the incident. All the owners of the vehicles involved came to the police station on the same day to make a report for further investigation," he said.

He added that the van driver, in his 40s, also came forward to make a police report at the Ampang Jaya traffic station at 12:29pm on Sunday.

"Preliminary investigations revealed that the van driver fled because he was being chased by members of the public at the scene, and he was concerned for his own safety," he said.

Mohd Azam also added that the police have arrested the man to facilitate the investigation.

"The suspect's urine screening test came back negative. He was taken to Ampang Hospital to obtain a blood sample for alcohol content testing.

"Record checks revealed that the suspect has six previous criminal records, seven outstanding traffic summonses, and two traffic arrest warrants," he said.

He added that the case is being investigated under Section 42(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987.

"An investigation is also being conducted under Section 54 of the same act for failing to stop after an accident," he said.