Kota Kinabalu: A 36-year-old man died on the spot after he was thrown out of a Toyota Prado which plunged 100 metres into a ravine at Km 32 along the Tambunan-Kota Kinabalu road early Monday.

Simson Marusan, from Kg Sulakong Pitas in Kota Marudu, was among six friends believed returning from a wedding reception held in Keningau the previous day.

All six, identified as Faizal Mokhtar, 24, Mojiho Saraja, 55, Anson, 39, Alaxius Mantasim, 32, Chang Fui Khung, 36, and Mangu Sarajat, 73, sustained injuries.

It was believed that the 4WD driver, Faizal, lost control of the vehicle before crashing into an electricity post, resulting in it plunging into a ravine some 100 metres from the main road, coming to a stop upside down.

The impact was believed to have thrown Simson out of the vehicle some 30 metres from the road.

According to Chang who was sitting in the front passenger side, they started their trip back at 10pm on Sunday and had stopped to answer nature's call and a cigarette break before continuing their journey.

He claimed that some 10 minutes later, their friend, Faizal, started shouting that the brakes were not working and as the vehicle which was going fast headed towards a downhill corner.

Meanwhile, a 60-year-old eyewitness, Menson, said he saw them stopping near his house for a while before going on their way.

"Not long after that, I heard shouts coming from their vehicle and saw it moving fast before crashing into an electricity post and plunging into a ravine about 12.30am," he said.

Fire and Rescue teams from the Penampang and Kota Kinabalu station, Civil Defence Department and two ambulances from the Queen Elizabeth hospital rushed to the scene.

It took the rescue teams until dawn to carry the victims to safety.

However, it was believed the driver managed to walk up the hill himself.