News

17YO Who Died in Tampines Accident Was a Promising Student; Dad Works in Police Coast Guard

Kimi Tan

2024-04-23 , 2:40 pm

A tragedy occurred yesterday morning (22 April 2024) and claimed the lives of two.

The accident involved four cars, a van, and a mini bus at the junction of Tampines Avenue 1 and Tampines Avenue 4.

Following the accident, eight individuals were rushed to hospitals:

Four to Changi General Hospital
Two to Tan Tock Seng Hospital
Two to KK Women’s & Children’s Hospital

Six were conscious as they were conveyed, while two were unconscious. The two later died in hospital.

One of the two who died was a 57-year-old female passenger in a van owned by First Choice Pest Specialist.

The other was 17-year-old Afifah Munirah Binte Muhammad Azril, a JC Year 1 female student at Temasek Junior College (TJC).

Afifah and Her Father

Last night (22 April), Afifah’s uncle uploaded this post on his Facebook:

He said that her funeral (Jenazah) would be at their home from 11-12pm on 23 April.

Afifah’s father, who was driving the car they were in, was also conveyed to a hospital in critical condition. According to The New Paper, her father is a Police Coast Guard Inspector.

In the Facebook post, Afifiah’s uncle said Afifah’s father has been discharged from surgery and is currently being warded.

“We seek your prayers and understanding in these difficult times,” he wrote in the post.

Afifah Munirah Binte Muhammad Azril Was a TJC Student

According to The Straits Times, Afifah was in her father’s car on the way to her college’s running event at Temasek Polytechnic when the accident occurred.

Her uncle said Afifah was probably sitting in the rear passenger seat as her father had just dropped off his wife at work and his other daughter at her secondary school.

TJC’s principal, Mr Earnler Liu, told The Straits Times that they are “deeply saddened” by the family’s loss.

“The school has been in touch with the family of the student, and will render additional support to students and staff who may be affected by this incident during this difficult period.”

TJC has reached out to parents and advised them to help their children cope with the news of the accident as well as the death of their schoolmate.

In a Facebook post, TJC said their social media went silent yesterday as a mark of respect for Afifah.

In the post, the school said she was a “well-loved young lady” who was a member of the 48th Students’ Council. The post added that she was “lively and exuded lots of positive energy”.

She Was An “Outstanding” Graduate of Cedar Girls’ Secondary

Afifah was previously a student at Cedar Girls’ Secondary School.

With heavy hearts, the school mourned the loss of Afifah with a minute of silence on 23 April.

When Afifah was still a student there, she was known as a bright and hardworking individual who excelled in whatever she pursued.

On 9 February 2024, Cedar Girls’ Secondary School uploaded this post on Instagram, commending her resilience and heart for others.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Cedar Girls’ Secondary School (@cedargirlssecondary)

The post celebrated her achievements as student, leader, and Girl Guide, and acknowledged her accolades – Service Award, Good Character Certificates, and the EAGLES Award for leadership and service.

Condolences flooded the post’s comment section, including from Cedar Girls’ alumni.

Afifah was reportedly also the head prefect at Meridian Primary School.

She Was a Girl Guide Who Hosted the Queen of Malaysia

According to the post by Cedar Girls’ Secondary School, Afifah spent much time volunteering and devoted more than 30 hours at the Girl Guides Singapore headquarters.

In October 2022, Afifah was one of the Cedar Girls Secondary School Girl Guides who hosted Raja Permusui Agong Tunku Hajah Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah, the then queen of Malaysia, during Her Majesty’s visit at the Guide House.

Afifah showed the then queen a gardening project called “Healing Mother Earth – The Guiding Way”, which highlights how gardening can support the action against climate change.

Flowers Have Been Left At The Junction

About a dozen bouquets of flowers have been left on the ground at the accident site’s pedestrian crossings.

Sixth 2024 Traffic Accident Involving Children

Other than Afifah, two 11-year-old males, one in a car and one in the mini bus, were injured in the accident.

Other than the Tampines accident on 22 April, there have been at least five other traffic accidents involving children this year.

On 23 January, a four-year-old girl died on the spot when a car knocked her down in River Valley when she was walking home from pre-school with her two-year-old sister and their domestic helper.

A 40-year-old woman suspected of careless driving causing death was later arrested.

A week later, a 12-year-old girl died after being hit by a van in Taman Jurong on 30 January.

A 23-year-old male van driver was arrested for careless driving causing death.

On 6 March, an accident occurred involving a car and a school bus full of ACS (Junior) students on their way to school. The car, which had three passengers, caught fire on impact.

The three passengers and the car driver were arrested.

On 1 April, two Fairfield Methodist School (Secondary) students, aged 12 and 13, were taken conscious to National University Hospital after an accident involving a lorry near their school in Buona Vista.

Just a week ago, on 16 April, a 12-year-old girl was taken to hospital after a car knocked her down at a pedestrian crossing outside Bukit View Secondary School.

Due to the increase in fatal traffic accident, red-light cameras in Singapore have since been also used as speed camera to deter speeding since 1 April 2024.

You can watch this video to know more: