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SINGAPORE \u2013 When his car rolled unintentionally backwards, a man tried to brake but stepped on the accelerator instead, causing an accident that killed two friends he had known for more than 50 years. <\/p>\n
On April 20, Phua Chiew Tong, 86, was sentenced to the maximum fine of $10,000 after he pleaded guilty to driving without due care and attention, causing the deaths of Mr Ng Lian Khew and Mr Chan Wing Chai.<\/p>\n
The retiree was also disqualified from holding or obtaining all classes of driving licences for eight years.<\/p>\n
Court documents stated that Phua had since 2013 routinely picked up his two friends for trips to Johor Bahru to buy food and groceries.<\/p>\n
Shortly before 8am on Oct 11, 2023, Mr Ng, 76, and Mr Chan, 83, were at the entrance of a multi-storey carpark in Lorong 7 Toa Payoh when Phua arrived in his car. <\/p>\n
After the vehicle came to a halt, Mr Ng opened the boot while Mr Chan opened the front passenger door.<\/p>\n
Deputy public prosecutors Darren Ang and Kenley Kwan stated in court documents: \u201cAs they did so, the car began rolling backwards. <\/p>\n
\u201cSeeing that his friends were close to the car, the accused attempted to step on the brake pedal to bring the car to a halt.\u201d<\/p>\n
Phua stepped on the accelerator instead, and he lost control of the vehicle when it accelerated in reverse.<\/p>\n
The front passenger door then collided with Mr Chan, while the rear of the vehicle struck Mr Ng.<\/p>\n
The car rolled over the pair after they fell to the ground.<\/p>\n
After that, it mounted a kerb, knocked down a signage board and hit a pillar.<\/p>\n
Phua got out of the vehicle and saw his friends lying unconscious.<\/p>\n
Mr Ng and Mr Chan were later taken to Tan Tock Seng Hospital, but both of them died shortly after 9am that day. <\/p>\n
An autopsy report stated that Mr Ng died of blunt force chest and pelvic injuries, while Mr Chan died of multiple injuries.<\/p>\n
On April 20, the prosecution asked the court to sentence Phua to the maximum fine of $10,000, adding that this case involved \u201cexceptional circumstances\u201d, given the nature of the offence in which the wrong pedal was engaged.<\/p>\n
Phua was represented by lawyers Choo Si Sen and Choo Yean Lin, who also asked the court to sentence their client to a fine.<\/p>\n
The team from Tan Lee & Partners said that Phua has been suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder since the tragedy.<\/p>\n
They also said that he has a degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, and a lung disease, likely a type of pneumonia.<\/p>\n
Urging the court to consider their client\u2019s advanced age and declining health, the lawyers added: \u201cOld age has been recognised as a good mitigating factor for not passing a crushing sentence.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is absolutely no likelihood that the accused will reoffend.\u201d<\/p>\n
Singapore\u2019s roads are now at their most dangerous in years, with traffic deaths hitting a 10-year high of 149 in 2025<\/span><\/a> compared with 141 in 2016. <\/p>\n Given the dire situation on the roads, The Straits Times will be running stories<\/span><\/a> to remind all road users, including drivers, motorcyclists, cyclists and pedestrians, to be more careful. <\/p>\n The stories will highlight the irreversible consequences of a traffic accident<\/span><\/a>, regardless of whose fault it is.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n