A black panther was killed after being struck by a four-wheel drive vehicle driven by a 19-year-old at Km387 of the East Coast Expressway 2 (LPT2) early today.
Hulu Terengganu police chief Sharudin Abdul Wahab said the incident occurred at about 1.15am while the motorist was heading from Kelantan to Kemaman, Terengganu.
He said the motorist told police the panther, a protected species, suddenly dashed across the road and he could not stop in time, Bernama reported.
The animal died at the scene. The driver did not sustain any injuries.
Sharudin said the carcass had been handed over to the Terengganu wildlife and national parks department for further action.
He advised road users to be cautious when travelling along LPT2, especially at night, and to observe the speed limit to prevent any untoward incidents.
