Driver, 86, hits accelerator instead of brake in Toa Payoh, kills 2 friends, given S$10,000 fine

An 86-year-old man, who stepped on the accelerator instead of the brake, which caused the death of his two friends, was handed the maximum fine of S$10,000 on Apr. 20.

Phua Chiew Tong was sentenced after he pleaded guilty to driving without due care and attention.

He was also disqualified from holding or obtaining all classes of driving licences for eight years.

The accident, which occurred at a multi-storey car park at Lorong 7 Toa Payoh, happened after Phua's car rolled backwards unintentionally, killing Ng Lian Khew, 76 and Chan Wing Chai, 83.

According to court documents seen by Mothership, the men were friends and had known each other for more than 50 years.

Planning to go to JB for groceries

From 2013 to 2023, Phua would routinely pick up his friends to go to Johor Bahru for food and grocery shopping.

On Oct. 11, 2023, shortly before 8am, Ng, Chan and another friend, were waiting at the entrance of the car park.

Phua halted the car at the entrance, waiting for his friends to board.

Chan opened the front passenger door, while Ng opened the car boot to deposit his luggage.

The car began rolling backwards as they did so.

Stepped on accelerator instead of brakes

According to court documents, the deputy public prosecutors said: "Seeing that his friends were close to the car, the accused attempted to step on the brake pedal to bring the car to a halt."

Phua stepped on the accelerator instead of the brake pedal and lost control of the car, accelerating in reverse.

The front passenger door collided into Chan and the rear of the car collided into Ng.

The men fell to the ground, and the car rolled over Chan and Ng before continuing to reverse in a circular motion.

The car mounted a kerb, knocked down a signage board and collided with a pillar before stopping.

Phua alighted from the car and saw Ng and Chan lying unconscious on the road.

The men were subsequently conveyed to Tan Tock Seng Hospital.

Both men were pronounced dead shortly after 9am on the same day.

Autopsy and mechanical inspection report

According to court documents, the autopsies on Oct. 12, 2023, revealed that both men had injuries consistent with those sustained in a road traffic accident.

Chan died from multiple injuries, and Ng died due to blunt force chest and pelvic injuries.

On Nov. 7, 2023, a mechanical inspection report was conducted, and there was no evidence to suggest that there was a possible mechanical failure to the car that may have caused or contributed to the accident.

At the time of the accident, the weather was clear, and the road surface was dry with no traffic on the road.

Sentencing

According to court documents submitted on Mar. 23, 2026, the prosecution asked for the maximum fine of S$10,000 to be imposed on Phua for the sole charge of driving the car without due care and attention.

The deputy public prosecutors said: "While the accident ultimately resulted in death, the accused’s

culpability falls on the lowest end of the range".

Court documents said that while custodial sentences are the norm for cases involving fatal accidents, the court may impose a fine of up to S$10,000 or lower sentences in exceptional cases.

Instances of exceptional situations are where the victim’s own negligence or rashness has materially contributed to the accident, or where the victims or deceased persons are the accused’s close family members, court documents said.

Phua's Lawyers

According to The Straits Times, Phua's lawyers, Choo Si Sen and Choo Yean Lin, said he has been suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder since the tragedy.

They added that Phua has a degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and a lung disease, possibly a type of pneumonia.

They urged the court to consider Phua's advanced age and declining health as a mitigating factor and said, "there is absolutely no likelihood that the accused will reoffend".

Top photo from Shin Min Daily News