Girl, 4, dies after being hit by car at Bukit Batok; driver arrested

SINGAPORE – Usually, Ms Jacelyn Wong would pick her up four-year-old daughter Eleanor Tan Si Xuan from the childcare centre. However, on Monday (Oct 9), she did not do so as she was at home cooking her daughter’s favourite dish of steamed eggs.

So, she sent the family’s domestic helper to pick Eleanor up from the childcare centre instead. The toddler did not make it home.

At 6.41pm on Monday, Eleanor and her helper were hit by a car along Bukit Batok Central towards Bukit Batok West Avenue 2.

An employee who works at a barber near the accident told Chinese newspaper Shin Min Daily that he heard a “loud bang” and saw a woman and little girl lying on the road about five metres away from the car. Shocked, he immediately called the police.

Eleanor was taken unconscious to Ng Teng Fong General Hospital, where she later died from her injuries. The domestic helper was taken to the same hospital with serious injuries.

A 53-year-old male driver was arrested for causing death by rash act. Police say investigations are ongoing.

Describing the ordeal as a bad dream, Ms Wong said she was feeling “very uneasy” when her daughter and helper were not back home in time.

“Mothers have six sense. When I was cooking I was already feel very uneasy,” said the 24-year-old mother. “I thought there was a train delay, and I wanted to go out and find them… But I received a phone call from the hospital instead.

“When I received the call from the hospital, I thought my daughter was just injured. It was only when my husband and I went to the hospital that we found out that our daughter is gone.”

She added: “I was thinking then, all these are not real. I must be dreaming.”

In a heart-wrenching Facebook post on Monday, Ms Wong wrote: “Dear friends and families, due to a traffic accident, our precious daughter Eleanor Si Xuan had left us… she will always be in our hearts… will update again in regards to her wake.

“I sincerely thank each and every one of you (who) dotes on our precious angel… thank you.”