Woman, 23, dies in fatal Yishun accident, friend, 20, fractures hand & unable to perform CPR properly
mothership.sg
The 23-year-old female passenger who died in a
car accident in Yishun on Aug. 2 was on a private-hire vehicle to her mother's house with a friend.
The deceased, Leong Weini (transliteration), had also planned to go to Malaysia afterwards.
Speaking at the wake on Aug. 3, the friend, Wong Meiyi (transliteration), recounted to
Shin Min Daily News what had happened.
Wong, who suffered a fracture on her hand, had tried to perform CPR on Leong right after the accident at about 5:35am, but her attempts were futile.
The 20-year-old broke down in tears upon seeing the casket,
Shin Min reported.
The 47-year-old male driver was conveyed conscious to the hospital.
Driver allegedly drove erratically
Wong shared that Leong had fallen asleep shortly after getting into the car and was seated on the right side.
The accident occurred as they were nearing Northpoint City.
Wong alleged that the driver was speeding and driving erratically.
She had felt that something was "off" as she saw the driver was swerving and his hands seemed to be shaking.
"I thought he was just tired and wanted to finish the shift quickly, but then the accident happened,” she said.
“Everything happened so fast. My hand hit the seat and it hurt a lot. I think Weini hit the front seat and collapsed onto me,” Wong said, with tears in her eyes.
Wong added that her friend was unconscious and bleeding from her head, nose, and mouth.
She called her name and saw that Leong moved slightly.
While she tried to perform CPR, she could only use one hand as her other hand was in too much pain.
She eventually called for help outside, and the bus captain of the bus the car rear-ended called for the ambulance and police.
Succumbed to injuries
The victim's father told
Shin Min that doctors said her heart had stopped at the scene.
While medical personnel revived her in the ambulance using a defibrillator, doctors said oxygen and blood supply to her brain were cut off.
Close friends
Wong shared that she and Leong were like sisters and had always studied and hung out together.
Being unable to save Leong had left Wong with much guilt and trauma.
Wong’s father, who is also a ride-hailing driver, shared how devastated his daughter was upon hearing about Leong's demise.
While they had initially planned to keep the news from her, she eventually found out and broke down to the point that she had to be given sedatives to calm down.
At the wake, she was also spotted crying inconsolably,
Shin Min reported.
Wong's father expressed concern about his daughter's mental health, saying they fear she might relapse into depression.
Wong is now afraid to ride in cars, and her father will be driving her from now on.
Well-liked and filial
Leong was remembered by loved ones as a well-liked and helpful person, who was a natural leader at school.
“We still can't accept this. Her mother even fainted from grief,” her father said.
He also shared that Leong had studied part-time while working and had aspired to become a professional accountant.
“She was doing so well recently, always eager to learn. She had even won a scholarship and was studying for her diploma. Her dream was to graduate, get a good job, and support the family. Now, all that’s gone,” he said, breaking down.
Pursuing legal action against driver
Both Leong’s and Wong’s families intend to pursue legal action against the driver.
Wong sustained a fractured hand that will require surgery, and the medical costs remain uncertain.
Her father plans to hire a lawyer.
He acknowledged that his daughter had not been wearing a seatbelt, which was a lapse on her part, but emphasised that the driver should have reminded the passengers to buckle up.
He also stressed that the driver’s speeding made the accident inevitable.
“It’s the driver’s responsibility to bring passengers safely to their destination. The bus was stopped right ahead—no matter how tired he was, he couldn’t have missed it. We will definitely pursue justice.”
Leong’s father also urged the police to complete their investigation promptly and ensure accountability.
Top photos from Shin Min Daily News
