Tan Mei Zhen Dies From Amoy Street Crash Injuries

A 25-year-old woman injured in a three-car collision along Amoy Street has died in hospital, nearly a week after a Mercedes vehicle crashed into patrons seated outside a Chinatown bar, The Straits Times reported. The October 17 incident, which occurred at approximately 12.45am, prompted the arrest of a 37-year-old female driver on suspicion of drink driving, according to local authorities.

The victim, Tan Mei Zhen, had recently been promoted to restaurant manager at Birds of A Feather and was waiting for a ride home with her manager when the collision took place, Stomp reported. Her fiancé recalled that the vehicle struck the pair with no warning, leaving them with no time to react. The impact sent both Tan and a 35-year-old man to Singapore General Hospital in a conscious state, though Tan suffered severe internal injuries, multiple fractures, and organ damage that required nearly 13 hours of surgery.

The Fatal Crash Outside Hutaoli

Emergency services responded to the scene along Amoy Street in the direction of Cross Street at about 12.45am on October 17, according to the Singapore Civil Defence Force and the Singapore Police Force. The collision involved three cars, with photographs shared on social media showing a grey Mercedes that had smashed head-on into the renovation hoarding of an upcoming music restaurant bar, Hutaoli, at Far East Square. A blue car and a second grey car with rear damage were also involved in the pile-up. A 39-year-old male driver involved in the crash sustained minor injuries but declined to be taken to hospital.

Police Investigations and Legal Consequences

Following the updates on October 26, the Singapore Police Force announced that the 37-year-old female driver arrested at the scene will now be investigated for careless driving causing death under the influence of alcohol. The investigation follows legislative changes passed in Parliament on August 4 under the Road Traffic (Miscellaneous Amendment) Bill, which raised maximum penalties for dangerous and careless driving causing grievous hurt and introduced additional jail terms for offenders driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Broader Road Safety Statistics

The fatal accident occurs amid rising concern over traffic safety figures released by the Traffic Police on August 28, which showed an upward trend in overall accidents and injuries during the first half of 2026. Traffic accidents resulting in injuries increased to 3,869 in the first half of 2026, up from 3,748 during the same period in 2025. Parliamentary figures shared by Senior Minister K. Shanmugam in August noted that 5,176 individuals were arrested for drink driving between 2023 and 2025, resulting in thousands of financial penalties and hundreds of prison sentences.