Tragic accident at Tampinese - pls wear cycling helmets!

[concern2]

3Boys:

About the driver. Whatever the circumstances and consequences, he too is human --> http://ride.asiaone.com/news/general/story/cement-truck-driver-released-bail


SINGAPORE - The driver of the cement truck which hit and killed two boys at a junction around Tampines on Monday has been released on bail, news sources reported.

His driving license has also been suspended. He was arrested for causing death by a rash act. According to the Straits Times, the driver is still \"very traumatised\" by the accident and is resting at home.

Driver also a safety instructor

According to colleagues of the driver whom Lianhe Wanbao spoke to, the 56-year-old is a safety instructor in charge of training younger drivers in the company.

The Singaporean man had joined Hi-Dynamic just 7 months ago.

Said a 29-year-old colleague, Mohammed: \"He taught us how to operate the cement mixer and how to drive safely. He also told us which were the best routes to take when driving through Tampines.\"

Mohammed revealed that the driver used to listen to the radio for traffic alerts and warn other drivers whenever there was a traffic congestion.

\"I never thought he would be involved in such an accident... I hope that everyone can forgive him,\" added Mohammed.

The Chinese evening daily reported that the driver, who has more than 20 years of experience, has three daughters and lives in the east. In an interview with his son-in-law, Rui An, 30, he said his father-in-law was so shaken after the accident that he broke down.

\"He was crying when my wife picked up his call after the accident,\" said Rui An.

The two brothers, aged 13 and 7, were on a bicycle when they were hit at about 5.40pm on Monday. The accident occurred at the junction of Tampines Avenue 9 and Tampines Street 45.

Ya. I saw this article. I wonder what happened to him that day. The bends on the roads are dangerous points. On the one hand, drivers have to look out for on coming traffic from the right, on the other hand moving vehicles forward to pick up when traffic clears. There is a good blind spot there and within seconds, anything could happen as the driver steps on the accelerator. Just wondering if the kids could have come from behind when the truck stopped, and got hit when the truck picked up to go... :faint:

I have phobia with heavy vehicles on the road cos once the front of my car was rammed by a long vehicle which did not make a turn big enough and cut in to my lane..Good thing no one was hurt.

[ammonite]

3Boys:

About the driver. Whatever the circumstances and consequences, he too is human --> http://ride.asiaone.com/news/general/story/cement-truck-driver-released-bail


SINGAPORE - The driver of the cement truck which hit and killed two boys at a junction around Tampines on Monday has been released on bail, news sources reported.

His driving license has also been suspended. He was arrested for causing death by a rash act. According to the Straits Times, the driver is still \"very traumatised\" by the accident and is resting at home.

Driver also a safety instructor

According to colleagues of the driver whom Lianhe Wanbao spoke to, the 56-year-old is a safety instructor in charge of training younger drivers in the company.

The Singaporean man had joined Hi-Dynamic just 7 months ago.

Said a 29-year-old colleague, Mohammed: \"He taught us how to operate the cement mixer and how to drive safely. He also told us which were the best routes to take when driving through Tampines.\"

Mohammed revealed that the driver used to listen to the radio for traffic alerts and warn other drivers whenever there was a traffic congestion.

\"I never thought he would be involved in such an accident... I hope that everyone can forgive him,\" added Mohammed.

The Chinese evening daily reported that the driver, who has more than 20 years of experience, has three daughters and lives in the east. In an interview with his son-in-law, Rui An, 30, he said his father-in-law was so shaken after the accident that he broke down.

\"He was crying when my wife picked up his call after the accident,\" said Rui An.

The two brothers, aged 13 and 7, were on a bicycle when they were hit at about 5.40pm on Monday. The accident occurred at the junction of Tampines Avenue 9 and Tampines Street 45.

Poor guy... :sad:
Poor parents... :sad:
Poor kids... :sad:

Tian bu zhang yen ah!!! :gloomy:

[winchester]

ammonite:

Poor guy... :sad:
Poor parents... :sad:
Poor kids... :sad:

Tian bu zhang yen ah!!! :gloomy:[/quote]

that's the thing - accident. don't know who right or wrong, it doesnt matter anymore to the parents.

[3Boys]

ammonite:

Poor guy... :sad:
Poor parents... :sad:
Poor kids... :sad:

Tian bu zhang yen ah!!! :gloomy:

Life can be CRUEL....

Who knows, maybe he just got a bit careless, maybe the sun was in the wrong place, maybe the boys shot across the road......

Usually accidents are a combination of factors. Could happen to any of us.

Tragic all the same, for all parties.

Very sad for them.

[ammonite]

3Boys:

Could happen to any of us.

Yes, I think this is why there is such an outpouring of grief across the island and collective feeling of shock. It could have happen to any of us, as a driver, as a parent, as a cylist, as a child. Could have happened to any of our children.

Many of us would have allowed a Sec 2 boy to fetch a younger sibling home on that particular route. It was not unreasonable or inconceiveable before Monday especially given the family's particular set of conditions on that particular day. Hardworking lower income family, trying their best to make ends meet and still be a responsbile new (PT) worker and mother. If I was her, I would have made the same decision that day and suffered the same consequences. That is a frightening thought.

[Harlequin]

The boys were coming from the left while the truck was making a left turn.

Tall and mighty truck would have missed them coming, blind spot.

If they were crossing from the opposite end of the pedestrian crossing, from the right side of the truck , this accident wouldn’t have happened, the right-seated driver would have a clear view of them.

Anyway, under any circumstances, speeding kills! Just have to drop the speed by 10km/hr , the outcome would have been very different.

[hquek]

It’s easy to say why let big bro go pick up the smaller one but then he is already 13 y/o…it’s time he should be able to be a little more independent. I can only feel sad that this had happened.


I see it as a dilemma: when to let kids take bus on their own, when to let them go school on their own. Should I mollycoddle my kids and have adult pick them up to where ever they need to go? and if so, until when. Sec 1 can? or later?

Anyway, as a driver, I reflect constantly and tell myself to slow down and have more patience. It’s a tad trying at times when there are reckless pedestrians and cyclists (and of course reckless drivers). Have to keep chanting to myself that it’s just a few minutes more, safety is paramount. Helps that I go light on the accelerator.

[3Boys]

Harlequin:

Anyway, under any circumstances, speeding kills! Just have to drop the speed by 10km/hr , the outcome would have been very different.

I wondered about that. It seemed quite difficult to take that corner at any kind of speed, I wonder what the stopping distance is for a fully loaded cement truck.

One scenario could be that the boys were catching up to the truck at that junction. Just as the driver turned left into the corner, they would have been right smack in his blind spot, and perhaps the momentum of the bike travelling at speed caused them to crash into the side of the vehicle and got pulled under the rear wheels?

Just speculation of course......

And changes nothing about the tragedy.....

[hquek]

possible, the driver was unaware of the accident until other drivers honked at him right?

[Harlequin]

I guess the traffic light was green at the driver’s favor, hence he did not have the intention to stop completely; had the light was red, and he was waiting in line, he would have to start moving with his first gear turning left… first gear speed won’t kill. And, probably there were no one waiting to cross at the opposite end of the pedestrian crossing, the better-viewed right side of the driver, thus he misjudged as the pedestrian crossing was cleared.