Gambas Ave crash death: ‘LTA was told in October 2020’ area was accident prone

The death of Foodpanda delivery rider Jason Tan on Sunday (Apr 10) made the headlines the following day. Mr Tan, 24, died in a collision involving a second motorcycle and a van in Sembawang.

Many were moved by his death because he was a newlywed and a father-to-be.

One netizen posted in the SG Road Vigilante Facebook page that he had written to LTA about the very area where Mr Tan had died, asking the agency to do something to make it safer.

Syed Al-Qudree wrote on Tuesday (Apr 12) that in the area, which is outside a slip road exiting from Gambas Crescent, “cars have no choice but to cross 3 lanes to make a u turn”.

He said he had asked the Land Transport Authority if a double white line could be painted on the road in order to prevent vehicles coming out from the slip road to cut across the three lanes at a “slow speed across a 70kmh road.”

Syed Al-Qudree said the LTA “rejected the idea saying putting double white line does not ensure vehicles won’t cross it and it will inconvenience cars coming from Gambas Crescent to go towards Woodlands Ave 12”.

He wondered if having no lines at all was a better solution, and added in his post a couple of screenshots that he claimed came from LTA and explained why they think the area is not accident-prone.

He brought up the death of Jason Tan, and added that he attended his funeral.

“Yesterday, someone’s husband died on this road because of the exact reason why I told LTA to change this road. Today I attend the funeral, look in the coffin and tell myself, this young guy might still be alive if LTA actually did something instead of brushing my concern aside. 

The driver of a van was cutting lanes to make the U-turn, he said, but the driver “changed his mind at the last minute and ended up hitting the motorcycle. Unsure if the van was coming out from the side road, or have been there before”.

Syed Al-Qudree posted several videos which he says showed why driving  there could become precarious and where extra safety measures may be needed.

On the day of the accident, Mr Tan was on his motorbike trying to complete 13 more orders, so that he could earn an incentive payment from foodpanda.

His wife had urged him not to go to work that day since it was already 9 am when he woke up. But he insisted because they had a child on the way.

The police told The Straits Times that they were alerted to the accident in Gambas Avenue involving a van and two motorcycles at about 1 pm.

A paramedic with the Singapore Civil Defence Force pronounced Mr Tan dead at the scene. The other motorcyclist, a 20-year-old man, was taken to hospital.

The driver of the van, who is 36, was arrested for careless driving causing death, and police investigations are ongoing. 

A crowdfunding effort to aid Mr Tan’s widow was put up after his death. At the time of this writing, $167,098.00 has been raised towards  a target of $200,000. Those interested in donating to the family may do so here.

/TISG

About to become a dad, Jason Tan, 24, wanted to work harder to earn more