Mr Leonard Wong Chee Wai would have turned 26 tomorrow. Instead, he died yesterday in an accident near Seremban, Malaysia.

Mr Wong, who worked in the IT line, was travelling on his motorcycle towards Kuala Lumpur when he hit a wheel on the North-South Expressway.

He was cutting from lane three to two and checking his blind spot when he hit a piece of debris on the road, said his close friend Jason Ang, 28, a marketing executive.

"It was the wheel of a van. When he hit it, he actually flew up in the air," he added. Mr Ang was in Singapore when he learnt of the accident from mutual friends who were in Malaysia with Mr Wong.

Mr Wong was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.

The New Straits Times reported that his Ducati bike had crashed into the road divider, caught fire and burnt out.

A team of seven fire safety officers arrived on the scene after a distress call was made at around 10.20am. The fire was put out in three minutes.

Mr Ang, who had known Mr Wong since 2009 when they met during Basic Military Training, said he was shocked his friend did not manage to avoid hitting the wheel.

"He was always very prudent, he always put safety first. On overseas trips, he would wear full gear - a full-face helmet, leather riding jacket as well as riding shoes with padding and stuff. And he was a very skilled rider," said Mr Ang.

The pair became riding buddies after they received their motorcycle licences three years ago, and they would ride to Malaysia at least once a month. This time round, Mr Wong was travelling with five other bikers to Fraser's Hill, about 105km north of Kuala Lumpur.

He was at the end of the convoy and his friends believe he did not see the wheel until it was too late.

Mr Ang said he rushed over to Mr Wong's house to inform his parents as soon as he heard the news. "His parents didn't really believe what I said."

Mr Wong's parents will not be travelling to Malaysia. His body is expected to arrive in Singapore by this morning and the wake is slated to take place later today.