KOTA KINABALU: A couple and their two children had a close shave with death when the van they boarded caught fire in an early morning accident, on Friday.

       The husband, 33, who was driving the van, his 31-year-old wife, six-year-old daughter and son suffered minor injuries after their car was rammed head-on by an MPV before catching fire along Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman, here, at 12.45am.

       It was learnt that the MPV was pulling an illegal u-turn at the road divider near the Urban Transformation Centre office, before ramming into the van.

       Police do not suspect the 26-year-old driver, who also escaped with minor injuries, to be drunk, but took a blood sample for further investigation.

       In a statement from the Fire and Rescue Services Department Operations Centre, the fire left the van 60% burnt in the engine area.

       Firemen used water and foam to put out the fire at the van's engine in the wee hour accident on Friday (April 12).

       Firemen used water and foam to put out the fire, and it was fully put out at 1.25am.

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       “The four victims were rescued by the public before our arrival,” the statement read.

       Six firemen were dispatched from the Kota Kinabalu Fire Station, led by the department’s senior officer, Evan Bobby.

       Victims were sent to Queen Elizabeth Hospital for treatment.