‘Nothing short of a miracle’: Tommy Koh lauds car crash survivor on his graduation from NUS
National University of Singapore (NUS) student Ting Jun Heng - who suffered a traumatic brain injury in an accident that killed his friend five years ago - has graduated with an honours degree in political science.
In a Facebook post on Tuesday, veteran diplomat Tommy Koh said he hosted Mr Ting for lunch and congratulated him on his graduation. Professor Koh is former rector of Tembusu college, where all four victims of the car crash studied.
Prof Koh said he also invited to lunch then Master of Tembusu College Gregory Clancey, Professor Lina Lim and Dr Margaret Tan.
In his post, Prof Koh remembered how Mr Ting’s friend, Kathy Ong Kai Ting, 19, died.
Prof Koh said: “Five years ago, Jun Heng and three of his friends from Tembusu College were involved in a tragic car accident. One of the students, Kathy, was killed. Jun Heng was badly injured and in a coma. In nothing short of a miracle, he survived and has graduated.
“We will continue to help Jun Heng find a job and heal from his injuries. Congratulations and good luck Jun Heng.”
On April 19, 2018, Ms Ong, Mr Ting and two other friends - Mr Zon Lim Thou Jung and Mr Lim Jin Jie - got into a cab at Clementi Mall in Commonwealth Avenue West and were headed to Tembusu College in NUS.
Their cab was making a discretionary right turn at the Clementi Road junction when a Nissan crashed into them and sent both cars spinning.
Ms Ong died from multiple injuries about three hours later in hospital. Mr Lim Jin Jie suffered bleeding in the brain and a spinal fracture while Mr Zon Lim, who was seated in front, suffered a brain injury. Both men were 22 at the time, and they were hospitalised for eight days.
Mr Ting suffered a traumatic brain injury and arrived at the hospital in a vegetative state. After the accident, Mr Ting suffered from a limp and speech impediment.
The cabby was sentenced to eight weeks’ jail and banned from driving for five years, while the Nissan driver was fined $5,000 and banned from driving for two years.
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