Navy NSF killed in SUV crash near naval base, Latest Singapore News - The New Paper
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Navy NSF killed in SUV crash near naval base

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NSF dies after his car crashes into tree at Changi Coast Road

It is every parent's worst nightmare.

And Madam Grace Tham was forced to live it yesterday morning when she arrived at Changi Coast Road at about 11am to identify the body of her son, who was killed in a horrific road accident.

Mr Yukio Matsuo , a 21-year-old full-time national serviceman, was behind the wheel of a five-seater SUV when it went out of control and smashed head-on into a tree around 6.30am.

The New Paper understands that he was an engineering technician in the Navy.

A Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) spokesman said the car's five passengers were injured in the accident.

The SCDF dispatched a fire engine, a Red Rhino, five ambulances and two support vehicles to the scene after it was alerted to the accident, which occurred near the Changi Airbase and Changi Naval Base, at 6.35am.

The impact was so great that Mr Matsuo was trapped inside the wreckage after the crash.

The spokesman said: "The driver was trapped in the car. He was extricated using hydraulic rescue tools (and) was subsequently pronounced dead at the scene."

The injured passengers, believed to be male Navy regulars in their 20s to 30s, were taken to Changi General Hospital. Two of them were unconscious.

ANGUISH

When Madam Tham and her Japanese husband, Mr Hiroyuki Matsuo, walked up to the blue tent covering their son's body, police personnel opened it.

The sight made Madam Tham go limp and she wailed in anguish while clinging to her husband for support.

The younger Mr Matsuo's Facebook profile said he studied at St. Joseph's Institution before enrolling at Ngee Ann Polytechnic, where he studied marine and offshore technology.

His parents own Matsuo Sushi Restaurant at Goldhill Plaza and the family lives in a condominium in the Holland Village area.

When Chinese evening daily Lianhe Wanbao visited the family home yesterday, Madam Tham and a domestic helper, who is believed to have worked for the family for nine years, were crying on the couch.

Also present were her husband, who was originally from Hokkaido, Japan, and other family members. The parents declined to be interviewed.

But the domestic helper told Wanbao that the younger Mr Matsuo was gentle and quiet, and enjoyed spending time at home with his family.

"When he went out last night with his friends, I did not expect to hear bad news this morning," Wanbao quoted her as saying.

She also revealed that the car he was driving belongs to his mother.

The paper also said that his younger sister is flying home from Japan, where she is studying.

The police said they were informed of the accident at 6.32am and are investigating it.

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