2026 Chinatown car accident
| Date | 6 February 2026 |
|---|---|
| Time | 11:50 am (SGT) |
| Location | |
| Type | Traffic accident (vehicle-pedestrian collision) |
| Cause | Careless driving (alleged) |
| Deaths | 1 |
| Injuries | 1 |
On 6 February 2026, a fatal traffic incident occurred at Spring Street in Chinatown, Singapore. A 6-year-old Indonesian girl, Sheyna Lashira Smaradiani, was killed after being struck by a car. Her mother was also seriously injured in the collision.[1][2] The incident drew significant public attention in Singapore and Indonesia.[3]
Incident
On 6 February 2026, at approximately 11:50 am, a 38-year-old female driver in a BYD Sealion 7 was exiting an open-air car park along Spring Street, located near the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum.[4] As she moved off from the stop line to make a right turn, the vehicle collided with two pedestrians who were crossing the road.[5]
The pedestrians were identified as Sheyna Lashira Smaradiani, 6, and her mother, Raisha Anindra Pascasiswi, 31. The family, including Sheyna's father and younger brother, were Indonesian tourists on holiday in Singapore at the time. Witnesses reported that bystanders used umbrellas to shield the victims from the sun while waiting for emergency services to arrive. The girl was conveyed unconscious to Singapore General Hospital (SGH), where she died from her injuries later that day. Her mother was admitted to the intensive care unit with grievous injuries but was later stabilised and discharged.[6]
Aftermath
The tragedy garnered significant media attention, particularly within Singapore and Indonesia, due to the victims being foreign nationals on holiday and the active role of the Indonesian Embassy in managing the aftermath. The case became a focal point for intense online debate, exacerbated by the driver's nationality as an Indian citizen. Defense counsel highlighted the "vitriolic" nature of these digital discussions when successfully petitioning for a gag order to protect the driver's minor child. The event also prompted a collaborative humanitarian response, with citizens from both countries raising funds to cover the family's hospital bills and burial costs. The father eventually expressed his appreciation for this international show of solidarity through an official statement.[7][8]
The 6-year-old's remains were repatriated to Jakarta on 8 February 2026, and she was buried the same day at the Tanah Kusir Public Cemetery.[8] The incident sparked a wave of sympathy across social media, with members of the public setting up a memorial at the site of the accident in Chinatown. Further consular assistance from Indonesia was also provided to the family and coordinated with the Singapore Police Force (SPF) during the investigation.[9]
Legal proceedings
On 8 April 2026, the 38-year-old driver, an Indian national, was charged in the State Courts of Singapore.[10] She faced two charges under the Road Traffic Act 1961:
- Driving without due care and attention causing death.
- Driving without due care and attention causing grievous hurt.
The court imposed a gag order protecting the identity of the driver.[11] This order was granted because the driver's own 6-year-old son was a passenger in the car at the time of the accident and is a potential witness in the case; identifying the mother would inadvertently identify the child. The defense also cited "xenophobic" and "vitriolic" online comments directed at the accused and her son as a basis for the order.[12] If convicted of causing death by careless driving, the driver faces a fine of up to $10,000, a prison term of up to three years, or both. The case is scheduled for a pre-trial conference on 13 May 2026.[6]
References
- ↑ Gabrielle Andres (7 February 2026). "Girl, 6, dies after accident in Chinatown near Buddha Tooth Relic Temple". The Straits Times. Retrieved 15 April 2026.
- ↑ Faisal Maliki Baskoro (7 February 2026). "Indonesian Child Dies After Being Hit by Car in Singapore's Chinatown". Jakarta Globe. Retrieved 15 April 2026.
- ↑ Davina Tham (8 April 2026). "Woman, 38, charged over Chinatown car accident that killed 6-year-old girl; gag order issued". CNA. Retrieved 15 April 2026.
- ↑ Prudence Lim (7 February 2026). "6-year-old girl dies in Chinatown car accident near Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, driver arrested". MS News. Retrieved 15 April 2026.
- ↑ Khine Zin Htet (8 April 2026). "Feb. 6 Chinatown fatal accident: Woman, 38, charged over death of girl, 6, gag order issued". Mothership.sg. Retrieved 15 April 2026.
- 1 2 Andrew Wong (8 April 2026). "Chinatown accident: Woman charged over fatal crash". The Straits Times. Retrieved 15 April 2026.
- ↑ Johannes Tjendro; Savanna Tai (16 February 2026). "'Very shaken': Father of girl killed in Chinatown crash mourns as Indonesian community rallies". CNA. Retrieved 15 April 2026.
- 1 2 "Keluarga Cerita Sosok Sheyna, Bocah 6 Tahun yang Meninggal dalam Kecelakaan di Singapura" (in Indonesian). Kumparan. 8 February 2026. Retrieved 15 April 2026.
- ↑ Koh, Xing Ying (7 April 2026). "Chinatown accident: Woman charged with causing death of 6-year-old girl". AsiaOne. Retrieved 15 April 2026.
- ↑ Davina Tham; Lydia Lam (7 April 2026). "Driver to be charged over Chinatown car accident that killed 6-year-old girl". CNA. Retrieved 15 April 2026.
- ↑ Koh Wan Ting (10 April 2026). "CNA Explains: Why the Chinatown accident case has a gag order and what it means if you share a video of it". CNA. Retrieved 15 April 2026.
- ↑ Kolette Lim (8 April 2026). "Woman faces jail over Singapore crash that killed Indonesian girl in Chinatown". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 15 April 2026.
External links
- "Indonesian Child Killed by Car in Singapore, Driver Named a Suspect by Indonesian Embassy". Kompas TV. 10 February 2026. Retrieved 15 April 2026.