A 28-year-old Singaporean man has been sentenced to two years in prison and disqualified from driving for 10 years after a horrific accident on the Central Expressway (CTE) that claimed the lives of his two friends.
The tragedy happened just past midnight on 11 August 2023, when Ong Wei Long lost control of his vehicle while driving at speeds between 116kmh and 140kmh along a slip road where the speed limit was only 50kmh.
His car, a 26-year-old second-hand Honda Civic, slammed sideways into a tree. The impact was so violent that the vehicle split into two separate parts, scattering debris across two slip roads.
Passengers killed in impact
Ong had earlier picked up his friend, 26-year-old Tan Bing Quan, and Tan’s girlfriend, 26-year-old Lim Xin Rong Shannon, after a gym session. They were headed towards Seletar Aerospace Drive when the tragedy struck.
Lim, who was seated in the front passenger seat, suffered catastrophic injuries and was pronounced brain dead days later. Her organs were later donated. Tan, seated in the rear, was flung out of the vehicle and died at the scene.
Ong himself suffered spinal fractures, a dislocated elbow, and multiple bruises but survived the accident.
Court sentencing and aftermath
In court, Ong’s lawyer, Adrian Wee from Lighthouse Law, said his client has no recollection of the accident, likely due to psychological trauma. Ong reportedly only remembered fetching Lim before waking up in hospital.
The defence asked for a 24-month jail term and a 10-year driving ban, arguing that Ong would already have to live with the lifelong guilt of causing the deaths of his close friends. The judge eventually imposed the requested sentence, granting Ong a deferment to settle insurance claims and legal matters related to the crash.
Families of the victims have since filed claims against Ong. Under Singapore law, dangerous driving causing death carries a penalty of between two and eight years’ jail, along with a minimum 10-year driving ban.
This case once again highlights the dangers of speeding, especially on Singapore’s expressways where slip roads and sharp bends can easily lead to fatal consequences if drivers fail to keep within the speed limits.