A coroner’s inquiry opened on 20 Feb 2025 to investigate the death of seven-year-old Nivya Rameshwar, who was fatally struck by a school bus at The Topiary condominium in Fernvale, Sengkang.
Here’s what were revealed.
Details of Fatal Morning Accident at The Topiary
The incident occurred at approximately 6:19am on 15 Aug 2024 along a carpark service road near block 23 of the condominium. Nivya, a Primary 2 student, was waiting to board her school bus when the accident happened.
The domestic helper, Sivakumar Ilavarasi, had instructed Nivya to wait at the gate while she crossed the road to place the girl’s school bags on the opposite side. Ms Sivakumar had promised to return and carry Nivya across the road.
During this time, school bus driver Phua Hak Heong was driving along the single-lane carpark service road after picking up another student. Mr Phua noticed Ms Sivakumar crossing from his right and slowed down to give way. However, he reported not seeing Nivya before feeling an impact on the front right portion of his bus.
Nivya’s father, Rameshwar Khirodhar, heard screams from his unit’s balcony and rushed down to find his daughter. He carried her to his car to check on her condition. His wife, a nurse, also came down but recognized the severity of their daughter’s condition immediately.
Investigation Findings and Ongoing Inquiries
Station Inspector Jeff Tan, a Traffic Police investigation officer, presented evidence including three video recordings.
One footage from a residential unit showed a smaller shadow, presumed to be Nivya, remaining in the middle of the road for approximately 10 seconds before stepping backward as the bus approached.
The investigation revealed that the carpark service road had no pedestrian crossing. A wall near block 23, higher than those at other blocks in the condominium, potentially obstructed drivers’ views of pedestrians.
The school bus contained an in-vehicle camera, but no recordings were obtained due to SD card issues. While the private road had no legal speed limit, there was a recommended speed of 15kmh to 20kmh.
State Coroner Adam Nakhoda has requested additional investigations, including an analysis of whether the bus driver could have seen someone of Nivya’s height (118cm) and determination of the wall’s exact height. The coroner also requested verification of whether a breathalyser test was conducted on Mr Phua.
The autopsy report confirmed Nivya’s cause of death as chest and abdominal injuries consistent with those sustained in a traffic incident. She was pronounced dead at approximately 7:30am at Sengkang General Hospital.
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