SINGAPORE — A fatal night-market crash that claimed the life of a 66-year-old stall attendant has resurfaced more than a year later, with a 41-year-old man set to face seven charges over the incident, including allegations of driving after using etomidate and dangerous driving causing death.
The case stems from a crash at Pipit Road near Block 52A Circuit Road on July 11, 2025, when a car reportedly surged forward, broke through a car-park barrier, crossed the two-lane road and mounted the kerb before smashing into a temporary night-market stall.
A 66-year-old woman who was working at the stall was pronounced dead at the scene.
According to the Singapore Police Force, the driver allegedly did not stop to assist the victim. Instead, he abandoned the vehicle and fled the scene with another male passenger.
Traffic Police subsequently identified the driver through ground inquiries and police-camera footage. He was arrested on July 12, 2025, within about 15 hours of the crash.
What investigators allegedly discovered
Police said preliminary investigations found that the driver did not have a valid driving licence and had used a vaporiser containing etomidate before driving.
The vehicle was rented using the account of the male passenger, who did possess a valid driving licence.
The passenger, who was initially also arrested in connection with the case, has since died in an unrelated traffic accident. Police said no further action will be taken against him.
The driver is scheduled to appear in court on September 2, 2026.
He faces seven charges involving:
- Driving under the influence of drugs
- Dangerous driving
- Dangerous driving causing death
- Driving without a valid driving licence
- Using a vehicle without insurance coverage
- Failing to stop and provide particulars after an accident
- Failing to render assistance after an accident
Why the case is drawing renewed attention
The prosecution comes as Singapore continues to tighten its response to etomidate-containing vaporisers, sometimes referred to as Kpods.
The substance is an anaesthetic that can affect reaction time, attention and coordination, according to Singapore’s Ministry of Home Affairs. Recent legislative changes have further strengthened controls surrounding vaporisers and specified psychoactive substances, including etomidate.
The wider road-safety picture is also raising concern.
According to figures reported by The Straits Times, Singapore recorded 38 traffic accidents linked to drugs and/or etomidate between 2023 and 2025. Nineteen of those crashes were fatal. Of the 2025 cases, 18 involved etomidate — a sharp increase compared with earlier years.
Authorities have previously stressed that suspected drug or etomidate involvement in traffic accidents can lead to blood testing and that motorists who drive while affected by substances face serious consequences.
A case that began with a late-night crash
The July 2025 incident happened at about 11.45pm, when the temporary night market was operating along Pipit Road.
What followed was a sequence that investigators say turned a traffic incident into a fatal case: the vehicle lost control, crashed through a barrier, crossed the road and struck the roadside stall.
The stall attendant was killed.
The driver allegedly left the scene rather than staying to assist.
More than a year later, the case is now heading to court, where the allegations will be tested through the legal process.
For Singapore motorists, the case also serves as a stark reminder that driving without a valid licence — and driving after consuming substances that can affect driving ability — can have consequences far beyond a traffic offence.
The 41-year-old has been charged, but the allegations against him have not yet been proven in court.
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