Papar district police chief Batholomew Umpit said those who died were the truck driver, his wife and daughter. The four injured were the driver’s three other daughters and a son.

He said initial investigations found that the truck, which was transporting a van which had broken down, was travelling from Keningau to Kota Kinabalu.

“The driver was believed to have lost control of the vehicle at Km42 Jalan Kimanis-Keningau, causing the truck to veer to the opposite lane and crashing into the hillside.

“The driver was pinned to the front seat while his wife and daughter were thrown out of the vehicle,” he said via WhatsApp here today.

He said the three victims were confirmed dead at the scene while the injured victims were taken to Papar Hospital in an ambulance.

He said the case was being investigated under Section 41 (1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 and police were still trying to identify the seven victims.