Body of woman found in partially-submerged car – more photos

KUCHING: An elderly woman is believed to have drowned when her car skidded and crashed into a water-logged ditch leading out to Sungai Maong at Stapok Heights during an afternoon shower yesterday.

The deceased, identified as 72-year-old Chiot Seliong, is believed to be heading back to her house at Bukit Mimon, Jalan Sungai Maong Hilir, when the tragedy occurred around 4.15pm.

A resident of Stapok Heights, who requested anonymity, said he heard a loud crash shortly after 4pm and went outside his house to check on the source of the noise, but found the road leading past his house devoid of any vehicle.

Thinking nothing more of it, he went back inside and only learned of what happened about an hour later when two youths stumbled upon Chiot’s Perodua Alza lying on its side in the water-logged ditch.

One of the youths, who identified himself only as Toma, told reporters that he discovered the vehicle after he and a friend stopped by the side of the road for him to ease himself.

The two of them made their way to the car and were shocked to see the body of a woman inside the partially-submerged vehicle.

Personnel from the Fire and Rescue Services Department were summoned to the scene to help extricate the victim’s body from the wreckage before medical personnel certified the death.

The body has been sent to the Sarawak General Hospital mortuary for a post mortem.