In a distressing incident in Malaysia, a driver’s failure to give way to an ambulance for nearly one minute resulted in the tragic death of a man who had suffered a stroke.
The dashcam footage, posted on Facebook by ambulance driver Jerry Rentap, shows the four-wheel-drive vehicle ignoring the ambulance’s repeated horn and siren while blocking its path on a narrow road in the Malaysian state of Sarawak.
The Heartbreaking Consequences
The ambulance, en route to the hospital with 41-year-old Iban singer Morgan Alban, faced a significant delay due to the unyielding driver. Paramedics attempted to perform CPR on the stroke victim during the delay, but he was pronounced dead before reaching the hospital, according to Berita Harian.
The video, shared by more than 419,000 viewers with 551 comments, sparked outrage among netizens. Many expressed disbelief and frustration at the driver’s apparent indifference to the emergency situation.
Apology and Explanation
The family of the driver later extended an apology to Morgan Alban’s widow, Annie Andrew. They explained that the driver was hearing-impaired, diagnosed with chronic hearing problems in 2017. According to them, he may not have heard the ambulance siren, leading to the unfortunate delay.
While Ms. Andrew accepted the apology, she urged the family not to allow the driver to continue driving or at least to wear a hearing aid while driving. She emphasized the need to prevent similar incidents in the future, emphasizing the importance of road safety.
Legal Consequences
The incident caught the attention of local authorities, leading to charges against the driver. The police, after identifying the driver, charged him with the offense of not giving way to an ambulance. The incident serves as a reminder to all road users to adhere to traffic regulations, especially when emergency vehicles are present.
Morgan Alban was laid to rest at a cemetery in Simanggang on Monday. In a poignant Facebook post, his grieving widow expressed the heartbreak of bidding farewell after 12 years of marriage. The couple leaves behind two young children who will grow up without their father.
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Source: Jerry Rentap on Facebook