Tow truck driver, 57, who died in Lavender Street hit-and-run, a beloved friend & neighbour, remembered for dedication to job

The 57-year-old tow truck driver who died in the hit-and-run accident along Lavender Street on Aug. 20 was remembered fondly as a family man and friendly neighbour.

He was also dedicated to his job and customers.

Dedication to job

Tributes to the victim, Chua Siong San, also known as Patrick, were posted on a Facebook post made by the car garage shop he worked with for 15 years.

One commenter referred to Chua as a "super nice and humble person", remembering him as someone who went out of his way to assist his customers.

The commenter told Mothership that the two last interacted in November 2021, when Chua assisted him in towing a broken-down car from Sengkang to the workshop in Kaki Bukit late at night.

Referring to Chua as "Uncle Patrick", the man said Chua had been unavailable when he called, but "didn't push [him] away [or] look for other person", rather attended to him personally as soon as he could despite the late hour.

The next time he saw Chua was on the news, when he had already passed.

"My heart dropped immediately and I didn't carry on with my dinner. Very sad to find out this tragic news happened to him."

Friendly neighbour

Another commenter said he had known Chua as a friendly face in his mother's neighbourhood for more than 20 years, someone they often greeted in the carpark.

"A very friendly and helpful gentleman in the neighbourhood, just like our Kampong spirit, helping each other," the man told Mothership.

Chua had been actively involved in community service work in grassroots organisations.

He was also a member of a lion dance group named "Ji Xian", who was a part of Chua's funeral processions.

The group regularly performed during Chinese New Year, the commenter said.

Kind and humble

Others also took to the comment section of the garage shop's post to express their admiration for Chua.

"A nice humble person/neighbour who always respected others and give way to elderly, women and children," one wrote.

A number of Chua's former customers also attested to his kindness, ranging from the "extra help when [their] car needed a tow" to a "lobang (give a lift) to the workshop".

Another said he had "wanted to engage him for services recently and was wondering why he never [replied]", only discovering the reason after coming across the post.

"RIP sir."

Hit-and-run

The accident occurred at the junction of King George's Avenue and Lavender Street in the evening of Aug. 20, when a rental car and Chua's lorry collided.

According to the police, the car driver had left the scene by the time they arrived.

Chua was conveyed unconscious to Tan Tock Seng Hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries and died.

The driver of the car, a 33-year-old man, was caught five days later and charged in court on Aug. 27 for dangerous driving and for leaving the scene without rendering assistance.

He was also found to have not reported the accident to the police within 24 hours, a crime punishable under Singapore's law.

Top images via Cai Kai Jie/Facebook and Monster Garage