A 32-YEAR-OLD primary school teaching assistant died on the spot after his motorcycle collided with a car from the Chinese Embassy on Sunday morning.
Tan Kiat Siang was believed to have been on his way to pay respects to his father, who had died recently, when he got into an accident at about 10.30am at the junction of Mandai Lake Road and Mandai Road, reported Chinese newspaper Shin Min Daily News yesterday.
Mr Tan was an allied educator – someone who supports teachers in their work – in mathematics at Naval Base Primary School, where he was also in charge of the Info Comm Club.
An eyewitness told Shin Min Daily that a red Volvo was preparing to turn right from Mandai Road into Mandai Lake Road, when Mr Tan approached from the opposite direction on his motorcycle and collided with the car, landing a metre away on the road.
There were a few passengers in the embassy car, which Shin Min Daily reported as possibly being on its way to the zoo.
Noah Ong, vice-principal of Naval Base Primary School, told My Paper via e-mail: “The school is deeply saddened by the passing of our allied educator.”
Mr Tan was supposed to return to teach at the school yesterday.
“He was responsible and well-liked by his colleagues and students. We will provide counselling support to affected students and staff, and are rendering the necessary assistance to his family,” added Mr Ong.
Friends and relatives of Mr Tan have shared their condolences on Facebook, with pupils saying that he was the best educator.
Police confirmed that they were informed of the accident on Sunday morning and that paramedics on the scene established that a 32-year-old man had died.
The Chinese Embassy told The Straits Times: “A staff member of the Chinese Embassy in Singapore involved in a traffic accident in Mandai Road on the morning of Sept 13 is under investigation by the Singapore Police.”
Source: http://mypaper.sg
