A four-wheel-drive vehicle crashed into a power transmission tower in Kuching early today, toppling the structure across the lane of Jalan Tun Jugah heading to the airport, police said.

Kuching police chief ACP Roslan Bek Ahmad said the 33KV distribution tower toppled after the Triton vehicle skidded and crashed onto it at 7am, but the driver was missing when police arrived at the scene.

“The case is being investigated for negligent driving,” he said in a statement.

Sarawak Energy Bhd said in a statement that work was going on to remove the tower which was prohibiting traffic flow.

It said the work would take at least five hours because there was a need to secure two adjacent standing towers to prevent their collapse.

It hopes to complete the job by 2 pm today, it added.

“This collapsed distribution line was not active after the new cable to the airport substation was commissioned.

“The line acts as an alternative backup for fast restoration of power in the event of a fault at the new cable from the bypass 33KV substation to the airport 33KV substation,” it said.

- Bernama