A 21-year-old navy national serviceman was killed and his five passengers injured when he lost control of his car in Changi Coast Road yesterday morning.

Mr Yukio Matsuo was driving at about 6.30am when he reportedly veered across the central divider, then over two more lanes before crashing into a tree.

All five passengers - also navy personnel in their 20s or 30s - were taken conscious to Changi General Hospital.

Mr Matsuo was trapped in the car when Singapore Civil Defence Force personnel arrived. He was extricated using hydraulic rescue tools. He was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.

Police are investigating the accident, which took place near the Changi Naval Base.

Mr Matsuo, whose father is Japanese and mother Singaporean, had apparently been driving his mother's car.

The family's maid described him as "gentle and quiet", reported Lianhe Wanbao. According to his Facebook profile, he was a former student of St Joseph's Institution and had studied marine and offshore technology at Ngee Ann Polytechnic. He joined the Republic of Singapore Navy last year.

Changi Coast Road, where the crash happened, has seen several accidents in recent years.

Last September, a man was killed after driving a pick-up truck to a spot where a tipper truck had broken down. Another truck then collided with the two vehicles.

In March, a Malaysian truck driver who was having a meal by the roadside with an acquaintance died after a tipper truck swerved in their direction, pinning him under it.

Earlier this month, a Certis Cisco passenger van carrying 11 persons crashed into a lamppost and a power supply box. The vehicle ended up on its side. There were no casualties.