Man at a loss after losing wife and daughter in Alexandra Canal accident: 'She was an experienced driver'

“They are my princesses,” said Mr Robin Poon, 50, husband and father of the victims who died the accident at Alexandra Canal last night (Jan 24).

According to The Straits Times, the two women who died when their car plunged into the canal have been identified as Madam Yep Lay Choo, 51, and her daughter, Ms Kimberly Poon, 22.

Stomper David and Anishar both sent in photos and footage of the rescue process.

Madam Yep’s husband, Mr Robin Poon, 50, who runs a car repair business, said he was at a loss about what to do after losing his wife and daughter.

Mr Poon said his wife was a very quiet woman. “But she was a workaholic,” he said.

He described his daughter Kimberly, who was in a logistics course at the Singapore Institute of Management, as a very easygoing and bubbly person.

Mr Poon said the family had gone for lunch in the afternoon at an Italian restaurant at Hotel Vagabond in Syed Alwi Road, followed by a foot massage.

They then went their separate ways for dinner as Mr Poon had an appointment.

"That was the last I saw them," he said.

Mr Poon told Shin Min Daily News that the CCTV also captured the car leaving the carpark. He saw his wife and daughter for a last time in the footage, he said.

Madam Yep,  and Ms Poon, their only child, went for dinner at Valley Point Shopping Centre. The duo took the family car, a silver Mercedes E250.

It is understood that Mdm Yep was driving while her daughter was sitting in the front passenger seat. 

Madam Yep's brother, Mr Yep Tai Sai, 54, said CCTV footage from the mall showed the two walking happily in the carpark carrying grocery bags.

"They were smiling and walking, nothing was wrong," said Mr Yep.

From the footage, Mdm Yep looked like she was stepping on the brake, Mr Poon said. 

He added that she had been driving for about 20 years and is an experienced driver.

Witnesses say the car emerged from the carpark of Valley Point Shopping Centre in River Valley Road at around 9pm. It drove straight into the bushes next to Alexandra Canal before hitting the water.

The car sank into the water quickly, and turned upside down.

The women were in the water for about 30 minutes before divers retrieved their bodies, Shin Min reported.

The two women were pronounced dead on scene by paramedics. The police are investigating the unnatural death.

See also:

Two dead after car plunges into Alexandra Canal: Mother and daughter were shopping before accident

Two dead after crashing sedan into canal along Delta Ave