Motorcyclist crashed into boulder, not struck on head, says exco man

 

The boulder is believed to have rolled down a hill onto the road due to rotting and weak tree roots and soft soil. (Facebook pic)

PETALING JAYA: 

A migrant worker who died at Jalan Paya Terubong on Friday is believed to have hit a boulder that had fallen, and was not struck by the rock on the head.

Penang infrastructure, transport and digital committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari said this followed investigations into the incident by the Penang City Council and the state public works department (JKR).

He said the boulder is believed to have rolled down a hill onto the road because of rotting and weak tree roots and soft soil following rain, Harian Metro reported.

“Based on the impact on the broken boulder and the position of the body, the man is believed to have crashed into the boulder and was not crushed by it as reported,” he said.

Earlier, police said the victim was believed to have been struck in the head by a 50kg boulder while riding his motorcycle, and had died at the scene from severe head and facial injuries.

Zairil said JKR will install rockfall warning signs along the stretch of the road, while long-term mitigation work was being planned at the department level.

He urged road users to exercise caution when using Jalan Paya Terubong. - FMT