{"id":53954,"date":"2026-05-20T21:58:37","date_gmt":"2026-05-20T13:58:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=53954"},"modified":"2026-05-20T21:58:37","modified_gmt":"2026-05-20T13:58:37","slug":"half-of-traffic-accidents-involving-suspected-drug-or-etomidate-use-from-2023-to-2025-were-fatal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=53954","title":{"rendered":"Half of traffic accidents involving suspected drug or etomidate use from 2023 to 2025 were fatal"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">SINGAPORE \u2013 <!-- -->Between 2023 and 2025, there were <a href=\"https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/singapore\/politics\/38-traffic-accidents-involved-suspected-drug-or-etomidate-use-between-2023-and-2025-shanmugam?ref=inline-article\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"gap-x-04 items-center inline text-primary-60 select-auto\" aria-label=\"link\" target=\"_blank\" data-testid=\"custom-link\"><span class=\"font-body-baseline-regular inline\" data-testid=\"paragraph-test-id\">38 traffic accidents linked to drug and etomidate use<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Of these, 19 led to deaths.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">In response to queries from The Straits Times, the police said on May 20 that of the 19, nine involved etomidate while the remaining 10 involved <!-- -->only<!-- --> drugs.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Etomidate is an anaesthetic that has been used in e-vaporisers, known as Kpods.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The breakdown of the cases provided by the police shows a worrying surge in traffic accidents linked to drug and etomidate use.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Of the 38, two were in 2023, seven in 2024 and 29 in 2025.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The cases in 2023 did not involve etomidate, while only one of the cases in 2024 involved etomidate.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">But in 2025, 18 cases involved etomidate. That year also saw a new trend of both drugs and etomidate used together, as found in seven of the 18 cases.<\/p>\n<p><iframe class=\"responsive-iframe-base none\" title=\"dynamic_iframe_wrapper\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https:\/\/datawrapper.dwcdn.net\/T8anu\/1\/\" allowfullscreen=\"\" allow=\"accelerometer;undefinedclipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share;\" loading=\"lazy\" data-testid=\"responsiveIframe\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The police added that the cases are currently at different stages of investigation and prosecution.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">In February, Ms Valerie Lee (Pasir Ris-Changi GRC) asked a parliamentary question about protocol when traffic accidents are suspected to be linked to vaping and drug use.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Coordinating Minister for National Security K. Shanmugam replied that if the Traffic Police suspect drug or etomidate use in the event of a traffic accident, a blood test will be required.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">He added that there are already enhanced penalties if a motorist causes an accident while driving under the influence.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">A first-time offender convicted of dangerous driving causing death while driving under the influence can be jailed for up to 10 years and disqualified from driving for at least 12 years.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">In May 2025, a car driven by a 30-year-old man with a 28-year-old female passenger collided with a bus in Punggol. The woman died.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The police found 42 e-vaporisers and more than 1,200 pods in the car, with some containing etomidate.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Etomidate was later <a href=\"https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/singapore\/etomidate-found-in-blood-samples-of-2-people-involved-in-fatal-punggol-road-accident?ref=inline-article\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"gap-x-04 items-center inline text-primary-60 select-auto\" aria-label=\"link\" target=\"_blank\" data-testid=\"custom-link\"><span class=\"font-body-baseline-regular inline\" data-testid=\"paragraph-test-id\">found in the blood samples<\/span><\/a> of both occupants.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">In November 2025, an 83-year-old woman died after a car mounted a pavement along Teck Whye Lane and crashed into her.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The driver was found to have been <a href=\"https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/singapore\/courts-crime\/no-bail-for-driver-who-caused-4-accidents-in-5-months-elderly-womans-death-after-using-kpod?ref=inline-article\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"gap-x-04 items-center inline text-primary-60 select-auto\" aria-label=\"link\" target=\"_blank\" data-testid=\"custom-link\"><span class=\"font-body-baseline-regular inline\" data-testid=\"paragraph-test-id\">driving under the influence of etomidate<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Separately, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/singapore\/courts-crime\/first-motorist-convicted-of-driving-under-influence-of-kpods-given-over-6-years-jail-and-caning?ref=inline-article\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"gap-x-04 items-center inline text-primary-60 select-auto\" aria-label=\"link\" target=\"_blank\" data-testid=\"custom-link\"><span class=\"font-body-baseline-regular inline\" data-testid=\"paragraph-test-id\">first motorist convicted of driving under the influence of Kpods<\/span><\/a> was given over 6 years\u2019 jail and caning in March.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">New laws to tackle vaping were <a href=\"https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/singapore\/politics\/spore-passes-tougher-laws-on-vapes-with-heavier-penalties-protecting-young-a-key-concern?ref=inline-article\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"gap-x-04 items-center inline text-primary-60 select-auto\" aria-label=\"link\" target=\"_blank\" data-testid=\"custom-link\"><span class=\"font-body-baseline-regular inline\" data-testid=\"paragraph-test-id\">passed in March<\/span><\/a> and have come into effect from May 1.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">This includes fines of up to $10,000 for vape users, while sellers can be handed fines of up to $200,000 and six years\u2019 jail.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Smugglers can be fined up to $300,000 and jailed for nine years.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Kpod users can be jailed for up to 10 years and fined $20,000, while those who sell Kpods face up to 10 years\u2019 jail and five strokes of the cane.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Those who import Kpods are looking at up to 20 years in jail and 15 strokes of the cane.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"portrait inline-media-wrapper\" style=\"--aspect-article-portrait:1140 \/ 708\" data-testid=\"inline-media-test-id\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/tags\/e-cigarettesvaping\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"\" aria-label=\"link\" target=\"_self\" data-testid=\"inline-image-link\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"flex flex-col items-start relative w-fit\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 480px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/3601e8fc8d180b59ae122887737b5b291c614228765ff795f1dbb87de882f51b?w=480\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 720px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/3601e8fc8d180b59ae122887737b5b291c614228765ff795f1dbb87de882f51b?w=720\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 721px and max-width: 3999px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/3601e8fc8d180b59ae122887737b5b291c614228765ff795f1dbb87de882f51b?w=900\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 4000px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/3601e8fc8d180b59ae122887737b5b291c614228765ff795f1dbb87de882f51b\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/3601e8fc8d180b59ae122887737b5b291c614228765ff795f1dbb87de882f51b\" alt=\"\" class=\"aspect-portrait flex items-start shrink-0 portrait article-portrait object-contain mobile:w-auto tablet:w-auto\" data-testid=\"image-test-id\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/picture><\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/singapore\/courts-crime\/half-of-traffic-accidents-involving-suspected-drug-or-etomidate-use-between-2023-and-2025-were-fatal\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read Full Article At Source <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>SINGAPORE \u2013 Between 2023 and 2025, there were 38 traffic accidents linked to drug and etomidate use. Of these, 19 led to deaths. In response&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":53955,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2611],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-53954","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-buzz-headlines","wpcat-2611-id"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53954","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=53954"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53954\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/53955"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=53954"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=53954"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=53954"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}