In January, a tragic incident occurred in Yishun when a 31-year-old man driving a GetGo car crashed into a bus at a road junction. The unfortunate outcome resulted in the man’s death and injuries suffered by seven bus passengers. Investigation revealed that the man had consumed drugs prior to the accident, shedding light on his reckless behavior.
The driver, identified as Mr. Alvin Wong Mun Loong, was revealed through a Coroner’s Inquiry. The 31-year-old man had a history of drug addiction and had faced previous charges related to drug offenses.
Mr. Wong had been charged with drug offenses in the past, leading to a 12-month sentence of drug rehabilitation. He was released in March 2022, and at the time of the accident, he was supposed to be under drug supervision for 16 months. Unfortunately, he had ceased attending urine tests, disregarding his obligations.
In an attempt to rent a vehicle from GetGo, Mr. Wong misused the identity of a stranger since he did not possess a valid driver’s license. The exact method by which he obtained the stranger’s identity remains undisclosed.
Night of the crash
On the night of January 13, Mr. Wong was driving the GetGo car along Yishun Central towards Yishun Avenue 3. As captured by dashcam footage shared on social media, the car collided head-on with an SBS Transit double-decker bus at the junction with Yishun Central. The impact caused both vehicles to recoil, bringing the bus to a halt next to the traffic light.
Investigation findings indicated that Mr. Wong had run a red light, as the traffic light along Yishun Avenue 2 was green for the bus. The absence of tire brake marks at the scene suggested that he had not intended to slow down at the junction. However, the police could not ascertain whether he was speeding, and no foul play was suspected.
The collision resulted in severe damage to the GetGo car, leaving Mr. Wong trapped in the driver’s seat. The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) employed hydraulic rescue equipment to extricate him from the wreckage. He was then rushed to the hospital but succumbed to his injuries and died.
In addition to Mr. Wong, seven bus passengers were injured in the accident. Paramedics transported six of them, aged between 22 and 40, to the hospital, while the seventh passenger sustained minor injuries. The bus driver reported that some passengers had fallen from their seats, resulting in bruises on their limbs.
Drugs Found in the Driver’s Body
During the autopsy conducted on Mr. Wong’s body, traces of three different drugs—Ecstasy, methamphetamine, and amphetamine—were detected. The presence of painkillers and sedatives was also noted. The combination of drugs found in his system could have impaired his cognitive abilities, compromising his capacity to drive safely.
According to Mr. Wong’s wife, who was informed of his passing, he had been evading the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) prior to the accident. The last contact she had with him was four days before the incident, when he sent her an apology message on Instagram. The couple had been living separately since December 2022, and although he was learning to drive, he did not possess a driver’s license.