A recent coroner’s inquiry has revealed a harrowing detail in the tragic death of 57-year-old Michael Ong, who died in a chain collision on the Seletar Expressway (SLE) in October 2022. His death has been linked to a foreign metallic object that became lodged in his head after his vehicle’s Takata airbag deployed, marking the first recorded fatality of its kind in Singapore.
The Incident
The chain collision unfolded around 8 am on 10 October 2022, involving six vehicles. Ong’s car was the fifth in line and sustained significant damage during the crash. Unlike the other vehicles involved, only Ong’s airbags deployed at the time. Unfortunately, he was found unconscious and later pronounced dead at the hospital.
Investigation Findings
An autopsy revealed that a 1.5 cm by 2.2 cm metallic object had penetrated Ong’s head, having broken off from the airbag’s internal components and being expelled at an upward angle during deployment. As this tragic event highlights, defective Takata airbags have caused dozens of fatalities and serious injuries worldwide.
Vehicle Recall Context
- Over 198,800 vehicles in Singapore have been recalled due to issues with Takata airbags.
- The rectification rate currently stands at 94%, as reported by the Land Transport Authority (LTA).
- Globally, Takata has been implicated in over one hundred million recalls, predominantly in the US.
Role of Dealers and Compliance
Ong’s vehicle, originally registered in March 2009 and sold by the defunct Hong Sin Motors, was found to fall within the chassis number range of the recall announced by Honda. However, the main distributor of Honda in Singapore, Kah Motor, stated they had no record of the vehicle’s recall as it wasn’t sold by them. This raises questions regarding the responsibilities of parallel importers and the efficacy of existing monitoring systems.
Continuous Monitoring and Recommendations
Ng Lok Yee, a principal engineer with the LTA, confirmed that vehicle owners who receive recall notifications should promptly contact their dealers for advice on necessary rectification procedures. Failure to comply with such notices is an offence under the Road Traffic Act.
Broader Implications
The inquiry into Ong’s tragic death continues, with the next hearing scheduled for later this year. This case underscores the critical importance of timely recalls and safety checks—issues that resonate deeply within Singapore’s vehicular landscape.