Penang Bridge Crash: 21yo Vios Driver Detained & Then Released on Bail Under 24 Hours

Earlier this Sunday (20 Jan), the nation was shocked by news of a 20-year-old college student who lost his life after his Mazda SUV fell off the Penang Bridge as it was hit by a Toyota Vios that was driven by a 21-year-old man.

According to The Star, the 21-year-old hair stylist, who was detained for more than 16 hours at the central Seberang Prai district police station in Bandar Perda, was released on police bail yesterday at 6.45pm (23rd January).

Source: the star

The driver had surrendered himself to the police traffic unit around 2am yesterday (23rd January). The driver, who was spotted wearing a cap and a blue shirt, had gotten into a vehicle believed to be driven by his relative.

Source: the star

Source: the star

He also avoided news reporters who were at the police station.

Central Seberang Prai OCPD Asst Comm Nik Ros Azhan Nik Abdul Hamid said that the hair stylist is living in Taman Inderawasih, Prai. He arrived at the station at 4.55pm in a police vehicle before being released later that evening.

Meanwhile, the three-hour post-mortem on the victim, 20-year-old Moey Yun Peng, revealed the cause of death as “drowning of an individual involved in a road traffic collision”.

This means that the case will be reclassified under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 for reckless driving and causing death.

Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow mentioned that an official letter would be sent to the Penang Bridge authorities to inspect the guard rails in an effort to prevent such incidents from reoccurring. He told the daily,

“There are CCTVs at the Penang Bridge, and this incident was also recorded, which can help us examine how this incident happened,” he said.

What do you think about the driver being bailed out? Let us know in the comments section below. 

Also read: Moey’s Family Says He Was a Cheerful Boy, Asks Netizens to Stop Sharing Photos of His Body