The peaceful estate of Toa Payoh, Singapore, witnessed a heart-wrenching tragedy on the 11th of October when a traffic accident claimed the lives of two elderly men.
What made this incident even more distressing was that the driver involved knew the victims and had planned a trip to Johor Bahru (JB) with them. However, the day took a horrific turn when the driver lost control of the vehicle, according to Shin Min Daily News.
The Incident Unfolds
The fateful morning of October 11th brought about an unforeseen catastrophe. An eyewitness at Lorong 8 Toa Payoh described the aftermath of the accident, captured in footage and shared online – two elderly men were seen lying on the road lifelessly.
One of the victims was seen lying along the road divider, while the other was lying down motionless near the entrance of a nearby multi-storey carpark as paramedics worked tirelessly to perform CPR to resuscitate them.
A dark-coloured Lexus SUV was seen in the middle of a footpath, along with a fallen carpark sign that had been run over, and blood on the road.
The Driver and Victims
The element of tragedy in this incident was compounded by the relationship between the driver and the two elderly deceased.
Eyewitnesses and residents revealed that the three were friends who frequently spent time together. On that day, the three of them were planning to drive into Johor Bahru for a short trip.
However, as the driver attempted to pick up his friends, a sudden loss of control led to a catastrophic collision as he ran over and killed his friends.
Eyewitness Accounts
The eyewitnesses’ accounts provided insights into the immediate aftermath of the accident. One resident mentioned that the driver appeared visibly shaken when confronted by police officers. The shock and horror of running over his friends had left an indelible mark on him.
A hawker working at the nearby Toa Payoh Lorong 8 Market & Hawker Centre shed light on the friendship between the three men. They were known to gather at the hawker center for coffee and companionship, making the tragedy even more heart-wrenching.
Response from Authorities
Both the police and the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) responded promptly to the scene. Police confirmed that the two elderly men, aged 76 and 83, were unconscious when they were sent to the hospital.
The SCDF also confirmed that they received a call for help at Block 210, Toa Payoh Lorong 8, where they conveyed the two elderly victims to Tan Tock Seng Hospital.
The driver of the car, an 84-year-old man, is currently assisting the police with their investigations into the fatal accident.