Horrific Car Crash Kills 5 Young Executives in Singapore

[PeterRS]

This is no longer news as the events took place a week ago. But it illustrates the very serious danger when young guys in fast cars take it into their heads that they can race along narrow city streets just to have a good time.

Several friends between 26 and 29 had been dining very late at a Korean restaurant near Singapore's Chinatown. Most had worked for a finance company and were self-made men. Around 5:15 am they decided to call it a night. Whether the 29 year old driver had been drinking has not yet been determined. From reports it seems he offered to give some of his friends a joyride to show off his BMW Coupe along some of Chinatown's narrow roads. At least two had intended taking a night bus home but they decided to have a bit of fun.

The video shows surveillance footage of the car going out of control as it tries to make a slight turn. Some reports allege it was doing approx, 200 kph. It then skids along the narrow road lined with old-style Chinese shopfronts slowly rotating 180 degrees. It then hits the pillar of an empty shophouse back of the car first. The force of the crash may only have rendered the occupants semi-conscious. But after about 15 seconds it bursts into flames and their fate was sealed. Some seconds later a car stops of the left side and a man gets out. He was apparently a friend of the victims and was later seen on his knees howling in anguish. The girl seen running towards the crash is the fiancee of the 29-year old driver. Although the video has been cropped at this point, she runs straight into the flames to try to get her boyfriend out of the inferno. She was immediately taken to hospital and is fighting for her life having suffered burns to 80% of her body.

Ironically in the light of the accident, BMW's advertising for the model read "Sympathy for the Rebel. Can't Stop. Play with Fire. Chasing New Levels." That was quickly taken down.

It appears cars racing along these narrow roads in the early mornings is not unusual. Why Singapore authorities had taken no action to erect speed bumps or another speed control measure is unknown. They have announced in the light of this accident they will revisit the idea.

A photo of four of the young men who died has been widely circulated.

[vinapu]

not first ones and not last either. Thank God they did not kill any bystanders

[PeterRS]

Knowing that part of Singapore only vaguely, I was curious to find out how the estimated speed of 200 kph + was reached. The uploader of this video uses the simple calculation of time and distance. He also illustrates how that speed could easily have been reached by giving more details of the section of Tanjong Pagar prior to the start of videos showing the crash and subsequent fireball. Shockingly, it also shows from a different angle that the girlfriend of the driver was at the roadside actually recording her boyfriend driving his BMW Coupe as he made four circuits, each time gaining greater speed.

In the original video a large piece of the car is propelled across the road immediately on impact. From the state of the car as it was towed away, it appears that it might have been the door on the driver's side (although this could have been cut away later by first responders). Even if they had been conscious, the three in the back had no chance as the car only had two doors. In the event the front passengers were vaguely conscious, their fate was sealed. They would never have got out in time. At the crash site it is clear the bonnet (the engine cover) had been propelled upwards and forwards. This could have breached the front windscreen and effectively killed those in the front. In the video below the bonnet has been placed back close to its original position.

While this is all pure speculation, my hope is that every youngster taking their driving tests everywhere is shown these videos to illustrate the awful danger of speeding.

 

[vinapu]

great idea with that film being shown to driving students, also charred remains of that car instead of melted should be put on the permanent on public display in some prominent  busy place with "SPEEDING' written on the pedestal.

[PeterRS]

Apart from the tragedy of five deaths and one girl now scarred both physically and mentally for life, what would have happened if there had been a group of people crossing that road, or a car coming in the opposite direction? A taxi is seen stopping at the accident site in the opposite direction just moments later. That more were not involved is almost a miracle.