Car pulled from river after plunging in, but 77-year-old driver still missing near Sungai Petani

The Fire and Rescue Department is continuing a search and rescue operation for a 77-year-old man after his car is believed to have skidded and plunged into a river near Sungai Petani. — Picture by Raymond Manuel

First Published: Saturday, 03 Oct 2026 1:10 PM MYT

SUNGAI PETANI, Oct 3 — A 77-year-old man remains missing after the car he was driving is believed to have skidded and plunged into a river along Jalan Lubuk Segintah-Lubuk Kawah near here early today.

Kuala Muda police chief ACP Hanyan Ramlan said that in the incident, which occurred at about 1am, Mat Yusof Hashim was believed to have been driving a Proton Wira from Jalan Kuala Ketil towards Felda Teloi Timur.

“The driver was initially believed to have drowned, but after the car was pulled out of the river using a crane, the victim was not in the vehicle.

“As such, the Fire and Rescue Department is continuing the search and rescue operation for the victim in the surrounding river area,” he said in a statement today.

He said the vehicle was found to have sustained extensive damage, especially to the front section and both doors, adding that the car had been towed to the Kuala Muda Traffic Police Station.

“The case is still under investigation and has yet to be classified,” he said. — Bernama