Singapore fines 86-year-old driver S$10,000 after pedal error killed two long-time friends
An 86-year-old driver in Singapore was fined S$10,000 after accidentally killing two long-time friends when he pressed the accelerator instead of the brake as his car rolled backwards.
- An 86-year-old driver was fined S$10,000 for causing two deaths through careless driving.
- The fatal incident occurred when he pressed the accelerator instead of the brake while reversing.
- Both victims, long-time friends, died shortly after being taken to hospital.
SINGAPORE: An 86-year-old Singaporean driver was fined S$10,000 on 20 April 2026 after pleading guilty to driving without due care and attention, resulting in the deaths of two long-time friends.
The court imposed the maximum fine permitted under the charge. The retiree was also disqualified from holding or obtaining all classes of driving licences for eight years.
The victims, Ng Lian Khew, 76, and Chan Wing Chai, 83, had been close friends of the driver, Phua Chiew Tong, for more than half a century.
Routine trips turned tragic
Court documents stated that since 2013, Phua had routinely driven the two men on trips to Johor Bahru to purchase food and groceries.
On the morning of 11 October 2023, shortly before 8am, the three met at the entrance of a multi-storey carpark in Lorong 7 Toa Payoh.
After Phua’s vehicle came to a halt, Ng opened the boot while Chan opened the front passenger door.
Deputy public prosecutors Darren Ang and Kenley Kwan said: “As they did so, the car began rolling backwards.”
They added that Phua, noticing his friends’ proximity to the vehicle, attempted to stop it.
“Seeing that his friends were close to the car, the accused attempted to step on the brake pedal to bring the car to a halt,” the prosecutors stated.
Vehicle accelerated in reverse
Instead of braking, Phua pressed the accelerator, causing the vehicle to surge backwards.
He lost control as the car accelerated in reverse. The front passenger door struck Chan, while the rear of the vehicle hit Ng.
Both men fell to the ground, and the vehicle rolled over them.
The car continued moving, mounting a kerb, knocking down a signage board and eventually hitting a pillar.
Phua exited the vehicle and found both men lying unconscious.
Victims died shortly after hospitalisation
Ng and Chan were taken to Tan Tock Seng Hospital, where they died shortly after 9am on the same day.
An autopsy report found that Ng died from blunt force injuries to the chest and pelvis.
Chan died from multiple injuries sustained in the incident.
During sentencing submissions on 20 April 2026, the prosecution sought the maximum fine, describing the case as involving “exceptional circumstances”.
This was due to the nature of the offence, where the wrong pedal was engaged, leading to fatal consequences.
Phua was represented by lawyers Choo Si Sen and Choo Yean Lin, who also argued for a fine rather than a custodial sentence.
The defence stated that Phua has been suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder since the incident.
They also noted that he has a degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and a lung condition, likely a form of pneumonia.
Urging leniency, the lawyers said: “Old age has been recognised as a good mitigating factor for not passing a crushing sentence.”
They added: “There is absolutely no likelihood that the accused will reoffend.”
Rising road fatalities raise concern
The case comes amid broader concerns about road safety in Singapore.
According to Traffic Police annual road traffic statistics for 2025 released in February 2026, fatalities reached a 10-year high of 149, compared with 141 in 2016.
There were 142 deaths recorded in 2024.
The number of injured persons also rose from 9,342 in 2024 to 9,955 in 2025.
Authorities expressed particular concern over elderly fatalities, which more than doubled from 11 in 2024 to 27 in 2025. All of those killed were pedestrians.
In response, Traffic Police said enforcement measures would be intensified, including activating speed enforcement functions in more red-light cameras.
