S'porean man, 34, to be charged for using etomidate & driving on CTE causing 1 death & 2 to be injured

A 34-year-old man, Puah Zhe Cong, was charged on Jun. 10 with driving under the influence of etomidate, dangerous driving causing death, and other traffic offences, resulting in one death and injuries to two others.

On Jun. 5, 2025, at about 1:15am, the police were alerted to an accident involving two cars and a motorcycle along the Central Expressway (CTE) towards the Seletar Expressway (SLE).

Fatality & injuries

A 20-year-old motorcyclist was conveyed unconscious to the hospital.

He subsequently passed away from multiple grievous injuries.

His 28-year-old male passenger was conveyed conscious to the hospital.

He suffered grievous injuries, including a spinal fracture, liver lacerations, head injury, right ankle fracture and multiple abrasions.

A 28-year-old male passenger of the other car sought medical treatment for bodily pain after the accident.

Investigations

Investigations revealed that the accused, a Singaporean, had allegedly driven erratically, causing other motorists to take evasive action to avoid him.

He purportedly left his car stationary in the middle of the expressway, obstructing traffic.

This resulted in the motorcycle apparently colliding with the stationary vehicle, before both the rider and his passenger fell into the path of oncoming traffic.

The accused allegedly did not render assistance and fled the scene in his car immediately after the incident.

He also failed to report the accident to the police within the required 24 hours.

The traffic police established the identity of the car driver and arrested him within 13 hours of the report.

Etomidate, a Class C drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act, was detected in his blood, following an analysis by the Health Sciences Authority.

His driving licence was suspended with immediate effect.

Puah is facing other charges unrelated to this incident.

He is accused of stealing an Audi A3 owned by Shariot Car Sharing on two occasions, using a woman's Shariot login credentials to rent a car.

He is also accused of driving without insurance, and receiving US$1.2 million and remitting it to bank accounts on the instructions of a criminal.

Charges

Puah was charged with driving under the influence of a drug, dangerous driving causing death, dangerous driving causing grievous hurt, dangerous driving causing hurt, failing to stop after an accident, failing to render assistance after a fatal accident and removing a vehicle without police authority after an accident.

Driving under the influence of a drug as a repeat offender carries a fine ranging from S$5,000 to S$20,000, and a jail term of up to two years.

Offenders may also face disqualification from driving all classes of vehicles for at least five years.

Dangerous driving causing death carries a jail term between two and eight years and, as a serious repeat offender, carries an additional jail term of between two and four years.

Offenders may be disqualified from driving all classes of vehicles for at least 15 years.

Dangerous driving causing grievous hurt carries a jail term between one and five years.

A serious repeat offender can additionally be fined between S$5,000 and S$20,000, with an additional jail term of up to two years.

Offenders may be disqualified from driving all classes of vehicles for at least 13 years.

Dangerous driving causing hurt carries a fine of up to S$10,000 and a jail term of up to two years, or both.

As a serious repeat offender, it carries an additional fine of between S$5,000 and S$20,000 and a jail term of up to two years.

Offenders may be disqualified from driving all classes of vehicles for at least five years.

Failing to stop after an accident, and moving the vehicle without a police officer’s authority, each carry a fine of up to S$1,000, or a jail term of up to three months, or both.

Failing to render assistance to the seriously injured carries a fine of up to S$3,000, or a jail term of up to 12 months, or both.

Offenders may be disqualified from driving all classes of vehicles for at least 12 months.

The offence of removing a vehicle without Police authority after an accident carries a fine of up to S$1,000, a jail term of up to three months, or both.