In a tragic incident that occurred on March 5, 2021, at a unit on the 11th storey of Block 456 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 10, a personal mobility device (PMD) caught fire while charging, leading to the death of a 49-year-old woman named Madam Tay Choon Hwee.
The incident was ruled as a misadventure on 25 July by State Coroner Adam Nakhoda. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by illegally modified PMDs and the importance of adhering to safety regulations.
According to the report, Madam Tay Choon Hwee’s son, referred to as Mr Ching, had purchased an illegally modified PMD from a person named Mr Muhammad Shahrul Abdul Razak for $1,400. Mr Shahrul had advertised the device on Carousell after his wife found it too big. He explicitly informed Mr Ching that the PMD was not compliant with Land Transport Authority (LTA) regulations.
The Illegally Modified PMD
The PMD that Mr Ching purchased had been modified. The original battery pack was removed, and the device was powered by two external 36-volt lithium-ion battery packs given to him by Mr Shahrul. It is important to note that the 72-volt charger used by Mr Ching might have been incompatible with the two 36-volt battery packs, potentially leading to overcharging and subsequent fire.
On the night of March 4, 2021, Mr Ching brought the PMD home, and at approximately 2 am on March 5, he attempted to charge the battery packs using a charger he already owned. Though he noted that the voltage of the charger matched that of the battery packs, he hesitated and monitored the charging process for two hours due to fear.
Tragic Outcome
After witnessing no issues during the initial charging, Mr Ching went to sleep, leaving the battery packs to continue charging. However, between 5 am and 6 am, he was awakened by his mother, who heard what sounded like explosions outside. When they opened the door, they discovered a fire engulfing the PMD in the living room, with the lithium-ion battery cells popping.
As the fire spread, Mr Ching rushed to the kitchen toilet to get water to extinguish the blaze. During this time, his mother experienced difficulty breathing due to thick black smoke filling the kitchen area. She attempted to return to the bedroom to call for help, but her vision was obstructed.
Rescue Efforts and Tragic Outcome
Amid the chaos, Mr Ching managed to shout for help through an open window, and a concerned member of the public called the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) for help.
The SCDF officers used a compressed air foam backpack and a jet hose to put out the fire. Tragically, Madam Tay Choon Hwee was found unconscious on the floor with items on top of her. Despite paramedics performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation, she was pronounced dead at Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) at around 8 am.
The State Coroner’s Conclusion
Following a thorough investigation, State Coroner Adam Nakhoda emphasized the inherent dangers posed by modified PMDs.
He strongly advised against purchasing and using such devices. Instead, he recommended that users only opt for UL-2272 certified and LTA-registered PMDs.
Moreover, he stressed the importance of charging PMDs using the supplied chargers to mitigate potential risks.