S’porean Couple Died in India When a Speeding Tanker Ran Over Their Car

A Singaporean couple passed away in India after a speeding oil tanker lorry ran their car over.

Here’s everything you need to know.

Singaporean Couple was En Route to Temple when a Speeding Oil Tanker Lorry Ran their Car Over

The couple was on their way to a temple when their car was run over by a speeding oil tanker lorry.

Mr Yuvarajan Selvam and his wife, Madam Nagajoethi Varadarasu, had travelled from Singapore to India on 8 March 2023 for a holiday.

A well-deserved break, or so it was supposed to be.

The couple had engaged a driver to drive them from their accommodation in Chennai to a temple in Tirupati on Sunday (12 March). The couple allegedly headed to the temple for darshan, a Hindu practice of beholding a deity for blessings.

However, while the couple was en route to the temple, their trip was abruptly cut short.

At about 8:30 am local time (11 am Singapore time), a speeding oil tanker suddenly drove into the car the couple was in. The speeding tanker dragged the car into the fields along the road.

Unfortunately, the accident spared no one. The couple, both in their 40s and parents to a nine-year-old son passed away at the scene. The car’s driver also passed away on the spot.

Truck Driver Fled the Scene; Arrested after Local Police Conducted Search

The truck driver responsible for the accident took the coward’s way out and fled the scene after the accident occurred.

He was only arrested after the local police conducted a search.

Perhaps the truck driver wanted to play a good old game of catch.

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Based on videos of the accident scene, many passers-by tried to rescue the couple and the driver trapped under the car. However, this was to no avail, as the car appeared to be entirely crushed under the oil tanker.

The authorities eventually managed to extricate the victims’ bodies from the wreckage before taking the bodies to a hospital in Nagari for an autopsy.

Family Members were to Join the Couple for the Second Leg of the Holiday

Initially, the couple’s other family members from Singapore were supposed to join them on 13 March for the second leg of their holiday.

Unfortunately, after the couple’s family members received news of the accident at about 3 pm on Sunday, the trip was cut short before it even began.

Family members then flew to India on Sunday night to work with authorities on repatriating the couple’s bodies.

At present, the couple’s bodies have been repatriated to Singapore.

Wake for Couple to be Held at Hougang

According to One-stop Indian Casket’s Facebook post, the wake for the couple is to be held at 633 Hougang Avenue 8 on Wednesday (15 March) from 6 pm onwards.

The cortege will leave on Thursday (16 March) evening for cremation at Mandai Crematorium.

Recent Fatal Overseas Incidents Involving Singaporeans

This is not the first fatal overseas incident in recent months.

In January, a 41-year-old Singaporean and her four-month-old daughter passed away during their holiday after a car accident in Japan. Their car had collided with a large lorry in the ski town of Kamifurano.

And who could forget in November last year when a 29-year-old Singaporean was unfortunately killed in a traffic accident in Thailand after his bike collided with a truck?

As we usher in a year of travels mostly free from COVID-19, let’s not forget to take precautions to keep ourselves and our loved ones safe.

If you happen to be going overseas, remember to register online with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs here before your trip. The system enables Singapore authorities to contact you to ensure your safety and, in emergencies, allows Singapore authorities to assist you.

The service is free for all Singapore citizens travelling or residing overseas.