Singaporean boy, 7, dies in Johor car accident; lorry driver tests positive for meth

SINGAPORE - A Singaporean boy died in hospital on March 17 after a car accident in Johor involving a lorry whose driver has tested positive for methamphetamine, said the police in Johor.

The seven-year-old boy was thrown out of the car he was in after a collision with the lorry at around 10.30pm on March 16, said the police.

The Malaysia-registered lorry and the Singapore-registered car collided in Jalan Pantai heading towards Permas Jaya, it added.

The 57-year-old lorry driver is suspected of having lost control of his vehicle and going into the opposite lane. He was travelling towards the Johor Bahru city centre, while the car was coming from the opposite direction.

The boy was one of four passengers in the car driven by his father, who is in his 40s. The child was taken to hospital, where he was pronounced dead at around 3am on March 17.

His mother, a two-year-old child, and an Indonesian woman, believed to be the family’s helper, were the other passengers.

The car passengers were injured to varying degrees, with the driver and one passenger still receiving treatment while the others suffered minor injuries, the police said.

In photos shared by the police, the right side of the car is seen heavily dented, with the side windows appearing to be completely damaged.

The Malaysian lorry driver returned a urine test that was positive for methamphetamine, and is assisting with investigations for driving under the influence of drugs, as well as causing death while driving under the influence and without a proper licence.

Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through the Consulate-General in Johor Bahru, said it has been rendering consular assistance and support to the family of the deceased.