On 25 June 2023 morning, an e-bike rider was on Yishun Avenue 9, heading towards Yishun Central, when a car hit the e-bike from behind, throwing the rider thrown to the other side of the railing.
The 43-year-old driver, who was arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving causing death, had immediately called the police, and sheltered the rider with an umbrella while waiting for help to arrive.
He had told reporters at the scene of the accident that rider was hit at the waist, appeared to have no external injuries, and was still breathing when he went to check.
The 59-year-old e-bike rider succumbed to his serious injuries in hospital.
More information about the 59-year-old rider, David Chong, has since been revealed.
Quit Drugs & Turned Over a New Leaf 10 Years Ago
On Monday (26 June), his older brother, Chong Guo Liang, 63, a chef, expressed grief during an interview at the mortuary. He said the family was shocked and heartbroken after hearing the tragic news from his brother’s girlfriend.
Guo Liang revealed that his brother had frequently been in and out of jail due to drug abuse. However, he turned over a new leaf 10 years ago, successfully quit drugs and dedicated his life to charity work. In fact, he had just recently returned from a missionary trip to Indonesia.
He added, “He took part in charitable activities, such as distributing food on weekends, helping the elderly paint their homes, and sometimes playing the guitar at church events. He lived a very fulfilling life.”
This morning, six people were seen at the mortuary, including family members and sisters from the church. The deceased’s sister cried loudly outside the mortuary.
Guo Liang added that they are a family of five, and David was the youngest brother.
David had been in and out of jail 14 times over 36 years, but after having a change of heart, he shared his experiences to help others.
He finally realized the need for change when he suffered a sudden heart attack while taking drugs at home.
He then contacted a Halfway House, spent two years getting clean, found work as a cleaner in 2017, and joined the Singapore Anti-Narcotics Association (SANA) as a volunteer, hoping to give back to society and help others.
After becoming a volunteer with SANA, David visited youth reformatories, juvenile detention centres, and other places to share his drug rehabilitation process and life experiences. Besides Singapore, he was also invited to speak in prisons in other countries.
The Singapore Anti-Narcotics Association (SANA) posted a tribute to David on Facebook, expressing sorrow over his death.
The post mentioned that David was very active in church charity activities and helped others in many organizations, including assisting others through the hardest part of their drug recovery journey.