SINGAPORE, Aug 9 — A 69-year-old petrol station attendant was killed after he was struck by a car said to be driven in reverse by an unlicensed 22-year-old man at a Singapore petrol station, news outlet CNA reported.
The driver was also later found to be behind the wheel of a deregistered vehicle.
The incident happened at about 3.55am on Thursday at a petrol station along Upper Changi Road North, where the attendant was preparing to refuel the car.
As the attendant was about to pump fuel, the driver allegedly got back into the car and abruptly reversed, with the open driver’s side door hitting the 69-year-old and causing him to fall and hit his head.
The man was unconscious when taken to hospital and died on Friday.
The driver then allegedly abandoned the car and fled with a female passenger, but both were arrested on Thursday after police identified them through ground enquiries, police camera footage and CCTV.
The 22-year-old man was arrested for allegedly driving without due care and attention causing death, driving under the influence of drugs and suspected drug-related offences.
The 22-year-old female passenger was also arrested on suspicion of consuming a controlled drug and abetting the driver in traffic-related offences.
The suspected drug-related offences have been referred to the Central Narcotics Bureau, while investigations into the woman are ongoing.
Preliminary investigations found that the car was deregistered and that the man did not hold a valid driving licence, with the vehicle seized by Traffic Police.
The man is due to be charged today with offences including causing death by driving without due care and attention, driving under the influence of a drug, driving without a valid licence, using an uninsured vehicle and using a deregistered vehicle.
He will also face charges of using a vehicle without a vehicle licence, failing to stop after an accident and failing to render assistance after an accident.
Police warned that deregistered vehicles pose serious risks to road users because they lack insurance coverage and may not meet safety standards.
“When operated by unlicensed or underaged drivers, these risks are magnified considerably,” Singapore police said.
“The Traffic Police urges members of the public to remain vigilant and report any suspected cases of deregistered vehicles or unlicensed drivers,” it added.
