In a heartbreaking incident, three friends planned a trip to Johor, and tragedy struck when an 84-year-old man mistakenly hit the gas pedal instead of the brakes, leading to a fatal accident that claimed the lives of two of his friends.
The incident occurred on Wednesday, October 11th, at around 8 a.m. in front of an open-air parking lot at Block 3A, 8 Lorong 8 Toa Payoh, just opposite Food Centre 210 in Singapore.
As the SUV had not fully come to a stop, one of the friends waiting at the roadside opened the car door. The driver caught off guard, attempted to hit the brakes but mistakenly hit the gas pedal, causing the vehicle to strike the two friends. This incident immediately garnered the attention of onlookers at the food centre, with many rushing to the scene and some making emergency calls for an ambulance.
According to food centre vendors, the elderly driver and the two victims were regular patrons who often frequented the centre for coffee. The vendors were familiar with them and mentioned that the driver had previously made plans with the two friends to go on a trip to Johor. Unfortunately, the accident occurred before the friends could even get inside the vehicle.
The two men who were struck, aged 76 and 83, were found at the scene, one lying on the median strip and the other near the entrance of the parking lot. The latter appeared to have suffered a head injury, leading to profuse bleeding. Both men were rendered unconscious, and passersby, including a nurse and subsequently arriving paramedics, performed CPR on them. Despite their efforts, both victims remained unresponsive and in critical condition.
The black SUV involved in the incident was left on the sidewalk in front of the double-decker parking lot. The driver's side front door was open, and the nearby electronic signboard had been knocked over. Bloodstains marked the ground not far from the SUV's rear. At the time of the accident, there were no other vehicles on the road.
Witnesses at the food centre recounted the horrifying moment. A coffee stall employee said she heard a loud crash and, when she looked up, saw the SUV crashing into the electronic signboard. The vehicle momentarily went airborne and landed on the sidewalk, displaying a considerable amount of force. Yashani then saw two men lying on the ground, with significant bleeding.
A 32-year-old administrative staff member mentioned that both men were elderly and had lost consciousness on the spot. She said, "Medical personnel at the scene worked on them for about 10 minutes, and everyone was worried, but neither of them showed any response."
Upon receiving the distress call, the Singapore Civil Defence Force rushed to the scene and transported both men to Tan Tock Seng Hospital. Sadly, the 76-year-old and 83-year-old individuals were declared deceased while in an unconscious state. The Singapore Police Force, when queried, stated that the 84-year-old male driver had been arrested on charges of causing death by reckless driving. The police investigation is still ongoing.
