Three people from a family died today when the van they were in collided with a train

The wreckage of the van carrying seven members of the same family after it was hit by a train along the railway tracks in Kampung Memanjang, Beaufort. — Picture courtesy of Fire and Rescue Services Department

Parents and teen daughter in van killed after collision with train

MalayMailOnline

KOTA KINABALU, Feb 28 — Three people from a family died today when the van they were in collided with a train along the railway tracks in Kampung Memanjang, Beaufort.

Four other family members who were in the same Toyota Liteace van survived the crash with injuries, Beaufort police chief deputy superintendent Azmir Abdul Razak said.

He said the collision happened at 2.55pm when the van attempted to cross the railway tracks and was hit by the train travelling from Kota Kinabalu to Beaufort.

“There were seven people in the van, all related to each other. Three people, an adult male, an adult female and a female school student died at the scene while four more are receiving medical attention at the district hospital,” he said.

The dead were identified as Majinon Matunjung, 78, his wife Noor Lela Roslan, 42, and their daughter Lestary Majinon, 17. All three were from Kampung Klias Baru.

The survivors who are being treated are the couple’s two other younger daughters Lamisah Majinon, 13; Missah Majinon, 15; their two-year-old granddaughter Siti Nurfarhana Fredy; and their daughter-in-law Sufiena Razali, 22.

“Early investigations show that the accident was caused by the driver’s negligence, who didn’t check the tracks to see whether it was clear. It was also raining heavily during the time. But we are still investigating how the accident happened,” said Azmir.

He added that Majinon was behind the wheel at the time and had used a gated crossing, but without a traffic light.