2 elderly men die after getting hit by car, friend who accidentally stepped on accelerator arrested

Two elderly men died after they were hit by a car driven by their 84-year-old friend in Toa Payoh on Wednesday morning (Oct 11).

In response to a Stomp query, the police said they were alerted to an accident involving a car and two pedestrians along Lorong 8 Toa Payoh towards Lorong 6 Toa Payoh at around 8am.

They added: "Two men, aged 76 and 83, were conveyed unconscious to the hospital where they subsequently passed away.

"A 84-year-old male car driver was arrested for driving without due care and attention causing death."

According to Shin Min Daily News, the driver had been picking up three friends for a trip to Johor Bahru when he lost control of his vehicle.

He knocked down two friends who had been about to get into the car after reportedly stepping on the accelerator instead of the brake. A third friend, known as Mr Sun, escaped unhurt.

Shin Min has identified the two victims as Mr Huang Lianxi, 76, and Mr Chen Rongzi, 83.

All four men were good friends who travelled to Johor Bahru together almost every week.

Recounting the incident, Mr Sun said that Mr Chen had opened the door to the front passenger seat. Meanwhile, Mr Huang was standing behind the car and preparing to open its boot so that he could put a trolley inside.

Mr Sun added: "At that time, the driver and I were standing on the right side of the car when all four of us noticed it sliding backwards. The driver hurriedly got into the car to apply brakes, but somehow lost control of the vehicle."

The car spun out of control and collided with the two men, sending them flying.

Mr Chen was seen lying by the roadside while Mr Huang was flung into the middle of the road, where he hit a central road divider before landing.

Mr Sun, who had a narrow escape as the car did not spin in his direction, had a nasty shock and ran towards safety, far away from the car.

A woman working at a coffee shop nearby said: "Both victims were (lying) facedown and covered in blood. It looked very serious."

Mr Sun said: "Even though it was an accident and nobody wanted it to happen, plus we are all so old, I couldn't sleep all night and kept thinking about what happened."

Mr Sun also asked the driver why he had stepped on the accelerator, but the latter replied that he did not know what had happened.

"He felt very guilty afterwards and even murmured to himself that he was going to jump off the building," recounted Mr Sun.

Police investigations are ongoing.

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