KOTA KINABALU: Three people were killed and six others were injured when two passengers speedboats crashed off Pulau Gaya, a 10-minute speedboat ride away from the state capital.

Two were rescued in the accident that occurred off Kampung Pondo on the island at about 12.30am on Saturday (May 25).

All six who were injured were rushed back to the mainland by a passing passenger boat and were taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital for treatment.

Their conditions could not be immediately ascertained while the three who died were killed on the spot after they sustained severe injuries to their head and body.

The police have yet to release details of the accident as efforts are underway to identify the victims of the accident that is believed to have occurred when both speedboats crashed head-on.

Kota Kinabalu City police acting chief Supt George Abd Rakman said that they were identifying the three dead men and were also trying to ascertain the number of people on both boats as well as how the accident occurred.

It is believed that a boat with nine passengers from Kg Pondo in Pulau Gaya was heading towards the jetty on the mainland while another speedboat was coming in the opposite direction when they hit each other head on.

Some claimed that the boatman without any passengers had fled the scene, and it has been learned that the police are currently tracking down the boatman.