Yio Chu Kang accident: Lorry driver charged in connection with death of 3 pedestrians

SINGAPORE — A 25-year-old lorry driver who allegedly killed three elderly pedestrians in an accident near Yio Chu Kang MRT station has been charged with dangerous driving causing death.

Xu Kai Xiang was charged on Tuesday (April 24) in the Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, where he had been warded for injuries he sustained from the accident. The extent of his injuries is unclear.

The accident took place at about 9.30am on Monday along Ang Mo Kio Avenue 6, in the direction towards Marymount Road.

After allegedly hitting the three pedestrians, Xu's lorry also collided with a stationary SBS Transit double-decker bus, partially shattering its windscreen.

The three victims are a father-and-daughter pair – Mr Chua Cheng Thong, 86, and Ms Gina Chua Aye Wah, 58 – and their friend, Mr Yap Soon Huat, 63.

If convicted of causing death by dangerous driving, Xu could be sentenced up to five years' jail.

According to the charge sheet against Xu, he is alleged to have driven his lorry "in a manner which was dangerous to the public", as well as "failing to have a proper control" of the vehicle.

According to the court document, as well as video footage which have surfaced on social media, Xu was travelling along the third lane of a three-lane road near the MRT station when he began to veer left towards the pedestrian walkway.

His lorry subsequently mounted the left kerb, collided onto the railings and surged forward, hitting the three victims who were on the sidewalk.

The lorry came to a stop only after hitting the stationary SBS bus, and colliding with a bollard.

All three pedestrians died at the scene.

Xu's father, Mr Xu Shu Jing, had previously told TODAY that his son had told him that his vision had "gone blurry" before he hit the pedestrians.