SINGAPORE: The taxi driver involved in the accident that killed 19-year-old National University of Singapore (NUS) undergraduate Kathy Ong has been arrested, the police said on Thursday (Apr 26).

The 54-year-old had been driving Ms Ong and three of her schoolmates on the night of Apr 19 when his Premier taxi collided with a car at the signalised cross junction of Commonwealth Avenue West and Clementi Road.



He has been arrested for causing death by rash act, authorities said in a news release.

Video footage that was circulated on social media shortly after the accident showed the taxi being hit by an oncoming car as it attempted to make a right turn at the junction. The impact threw Ms Ong, who was seated in the rear of the taxi, partially out of the window.



Police also said they have arrested the 24-year-old driver of the car involved in the Bukit Timah accident that killed a 23-year-old woman.

The accident on Apr 22 also happened at a cross junction, when the car was attempting to make a right turn. It collided with an SMRT bus and the victim, who was in the back seat of the car, died of her injuries at National University Hospital.



The driver of the car was arrested for causing death by rash act, said police.

"A GRAVE CONCERN"

Accidents at traffic junctions "remain a grave concern", said the police in a news release.

"It is important for motorists to exercise extra caution and to always slow down when approaching traffic junctions," they added.

"When making a right turn at a traffic junction, motorists must always give way to oncoming vehicles. They should not attempt to make the right turn if their views are obstructed."



The two accidents earlier this month - in Clementi and Bukit Timah - have prompted some calls for the Land Transport Authority to review the "discretionary" right turn at traffic junctions.

A petition on the matter has since drawn more than 15,000 signatures in four days.

"Roads have been widened significantly in recent years, with new lanes added and as such it is difficult to have field of vision of so many lanes, pedestrians, mobility devices and fast moving oncoming cars all at once to make an informed and safe judgement," said the petition as stated on the Change.org page.