Updated: 28/4/13

Tragedy in Admiralty

Student with instructor who died when tree fell on car: “I was just inches from death”

A driving instructor was killed when a tree fell on his car in Admiralty yesterday. His student survived with minor injuries.
The man, Mr Jason Cheong, 25, was with his student, Ms Marliana Sumarno, 34, who was at the wheel at that time.

Mr Cheong was pronounced dead by paramedics at the scene, while Ms Sumarno escaped with cuts on her shoulder and complained of back pains.She was sent to Khoo Teck Puat Hospital.

In an interview with The Sunday Times, the pre-school teacher said she had been driving very cautiously as it was raining heavily with thunder and lightning when the tree by the road fell on them.She was stuck between the roof of the car and the steering wheel and had to be extricated from the crushed vehicle with hydraulic rescue tools.

“I was just inches away from death,” she said. She was also not sure if she could continue learning to drive with the death of her regular instructor who was very encouraging. The Singapore Civil Defence Force said it received a call about the incident at 4.23pm.

Credits: STOMP Singapore

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Spotted on Wanbao Facebook first:

海军部西路（Admiralty Road West）今天下午4点多发生惊人意外！一棵参天老树突然倒下，砸中路过的一辆轿车，导致一死一伤。死者家人十分难过。本报记者目前仍在现场采访。
– 联合晚报

And then on AsiaOne and STOMP

Man dies after uprooted tree hits car at Admiralty Rd West

A man has died after a tree along Admiralty Road West was uprooted and hit the car that he was in on Saturday afternoon (Apr 27).

The driver of the car was sent to Khoo Teck Puat Hospital after the accident, according to the National Parks Board (NParks).

In a media statement, Mr Poon Hong Yuen, CEO of NParks, said:
“At around 4.35pm, a rain tree along Admiralty Road West was uprooted and hit a car. 
“We are deeply saddened to hear that the passenger has died. The driver was sent to Khoo Teck Puat Hospital.
“We understand there was strong wind and rain at the time of the incident. 
“Our priority now is to accord assistance to the family of the deceased.”

A STOMPer who came across the accident scene wrote:
“Passed by Admiralty Road West. Saw the aftermath of a tree fallen down and crushed a L-plate Honda City.
“Blue tent was beside.”Emotional family members was beside. “May the person rest in peace.”

Article Credits:STOMP Singapore

Apparently fallen trees at Admiralty Road West is not an uncommon occurrence. Referring to this picture taken from a STOMP article dated back from 2012:

Uprooted trees along Admiralty Rd makes me feel like I’m in a disaster movie

With the sudden surge of thunderstorms in Singapore recently, there have also been a rise of reported cases of fallen tree as seen from STOMP here. I, myself have also spotted one near my workplace whilst I was in a cab recently due to a thunderstorm and it looked really dangerous.

In these previous cases, luckily no one was hurt or injured. But unfortunately, as seen from the first case, the passenger wasn’t so fortunate. 

Just to end off with my condolences to the passenger and his family. RIP.
Meanwhile, I also hope the driver pulls through safely

Till later,
♥ mitsueki