Mercedes driver denied racing with black Saab prior to fatal Tampines accident

SINGAPORE: The driver of the Mercedes Benz was accused by the online community of provoking or challenging the speeding black Saab, which resulted the fatal Tampines multi-vehicle accident on Monday (22 April) morning.

Following the accident, a Reddit post claiming to be from the Mercedes driver emerged, clarifying his involvement in the accident.

The ‘driver’ defended his decision to accelerate, stating that it was intended to discourage the Saab driver from overtaking and to persuade them to slow down.

The original Reddit post has since been deleted.

However, according to reports from Chinese media Shin Min Daily News, the Mercedes driver denied writing the Reddit post.

He stated that he neither accelerated nor provoked the Saab driver into a ‘race,’ citing the presence of his family members in the car during the incident.

Singapore mourns the loss of the two victims in Tampines multi-vehicle crash

The accident occurred on Monday at 7:07 am at the junction of Tampines Avenue 1 and Tampines Avenue 4, resulting in eight hospitalized individuals, including two 11-year-olds.

A 17-year-old female car passenger and a 57-year-old female van passenger were conveyed unconscious to the hospital, where they later succumbed to their injuries.

The Singaporean community mourns the loss of two lives: Temasek JC student Afifah Munirah Binte Muhammad Azril and Norzihan Bte Hj Juwahib, an employee of a pest control company.

The 42-year-old male car driver, Muhammad Syafie Ismail involved in the catastrophic crash was charged in court on 25 April, facing several serious offences.

Footage from multiple dashboard cameras revealed the events leading up to and following the accident.

A black Saab was observed attempting to overtake a white Mercedes on Bedok Reservoir Road.

The Mercedes was struck when the Saab attempted the manoeuvre.

Subsequently, the Saab was observed disregarding a red light as it proceeded through the junction.

Meanwhile, the Mercedes successfully came to a halt at the red light.

Footage depicting the collision showed the Saab colliding with several vehicles either travelling straight along Tampines Avenue 1 or making a left turn onto Tampines Avenue 4.

Among these vehicles were one that overturned, another that appeared to have collided with a lamppost, one that struck a divider, and a mini-bus and van facing in the opposite direction.

After the accident, the public criticized the Mercedes and Saab drivers for speeding along a minor road between residential estates.

Online forums accused the Mercedes driver of intentionally accelerating to block the Saab.

In an interview with Shin Min Daily News, the Mercedes driver, identified as Yang, 50, refuted the allegations.

He clarified that he did not accelerate, emphasizing that he had his 79-year-old mother and 13-year-old daughter in the car, making such manoeuvres improbable.

Yang explained, “I was startled when hit, and tried to identify the Saab’s license plate after catching up, but it sped past the junction.”

When questioned by the police, Yang denied any pre-crash altercation with the Saab driver, rejecting allegations of racing.

He clarified, “I didn’t quarrel with him, let alone race him.” Yang also refuted claims of posting on Reddit, citing his limited English proficiency.

The purported Reddit post, supposedly from Yang’s perspective, explaining the incident, has been removed.

However, additional dashcam footage emerged, suggesting that a Mercedes GLC 43, purportedly the same vehicle accused of ‘racing’ with the black Saab, was observed tailgating a bike in a separate incident.

Car workshop employee faces death threats after posting Merc’s dashcam footage

Separately, an employee at a car workshop filed a police report after receiving death threats against himself and his family. This was in response to his posting of dashcam footage from a Mercedes Benz’s perspective.

According to TODAY, Mr Anthony Soon, a senior advisor at Success United, clarified that netizens mistook him for the driver of a white Mercedes-Benz involved in a collision with a black Saab.

Mr Soon emphasized that he was not the Mercedes-Benz driver and posted the footage on the SG Road Vigilante Facebook page on behalf of the driver who lacked social media presence.

He stated that he shared the footage not for insurance purposes but to clarify that the white car was not at fault.

Despite his intentions, Mr. Soon faced severe backlash, including threats towards his daughter and online harassment of his family.

Additionally, Mr Soon clarified that the Mercedes driver could not have written the Reddit post due to being in his 50s, Mandarin-speaking, and having limited English proficiency.

He also mentioned that the driver had used his firm’s services four times previously.