Please forgive my child, father of 16-year-old pleads to family of woman killed in crash

Firemen inspect the car that landed in the ditch after a sixteen-year-old girl lost control while driving. PHOTO: THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK

ALOR STAR (THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - The father of a 16-year-old girl, who allegedly rammed a car into a 65-year-old motorcyclist and killed her on the spot, has asked the victim's family for forgiveness.

The 59-year-old man from Kuala Nerang said he understood that it would be difficult for the family to accept the circumstances of her death, but hoped that they would forgive his daughter.

"It was a grievous mistake. What happened cannot be undone. I sincerely hope that the victim's family can forgive my daughter," he said on Saturday (March 25).

The man, who did not want to be named, said he did not know why his daughter decided to drive his car that day.

"She has not driven the car before and I really don't know what made her do it.

"March 24, 2017 will be a date that I know my daughter will never forget.

"This incident will haunt her forever," he said.

Motorcyclist Lijah Mat Hashim died in the accident which occurred at Kampung Musa in Kuala Nerang at 5pm on Friday.

Lijah, a rubber tapper, left behind her husband Abdul Wahab Junus, 65, and six children aged between 21 and 46.

Police said the teenager, who drove without a licence, failed to brake in time and rammed into Lijah's motorcycle when she came out from a lane and tried to cross the road.

The girl lost control of her car and landed in a ditch.

Both she and a female passenger, also aged 16, sustained light injuries.

The man said he was still unable to get information from his daughter as she was still traumatised.

"She is back home now, but we are unable to question her due to her condition.

"I had just finished my haj course and was heading home when I was told about it by a friend," he said.

"When I reached the scene, I could not believe my eyes when I saw the car in the ditch and firemen surrounding it. I also saw the ambulance taking the victim to hospital," he said, adding that his daughter and her friend were taken to the hospital just before he arrived.

The father had met Lijah's family members during her funeral on Saturday.

Abdul Wahab, a farmer, said the girl's father had asked for forgiveness from him.

"But, we will come to that later. My wife has left us and she is gone forever," he said. "Let us have some time to ease our sadness."

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