SINGAPORE CHINATOWN, a female driver has been arrested following a fatal crash that killed a six-year-old Indonesian girl near the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, authorities said.
Police confirmed that Sheyna Lashira Smaradiani, 6, died after being struck by a car along South Bridge Road on February 6. The child and her mother, Raisha Anindra, 31, were hit as a vehicle exited a nearby carpark.
Both mother and daughter were rushed to hospital, but Sheyna later succumbed to her injuries. Raisha remains in intensive care at Singapore General Hospital and is reported to be in stable condition. She has not yet been cleared to return to Indonesia.
According to Indonesian police, the family had traveled from Jakarta to Singapore for a holiday. Sheyna’s body has since been repatriated to Indonesia, while her mother continues to receive medical treatment in Singapore. Representatives from the Indonesian Embassy visited the family and met with Sheyna’s father to provide assistance.
The Singapore Police Force said a 38-year-old Singaporean woman was detained and later arrested for causing death by negligent driving. Indonesian authorities described the suspect as a CECA driver. Police said she is currently assisting with investigations.
An eyewitness stated that a dark-colored BYD vehicle was making a right turn while exiting the carpark when it struck the mother and child as they were crossing the road. Reports indicated that the father had been walking ahead, pushing a stroller with the couple’s two-year-old child at the time of the collision.
Video footage circulating on social media shows the distraught father holding Sheyna and crying out for help moments after the crash.
“She was like an angel,” Sheyna’s aunt, Rara, who is also Raisha’s older sister, told Indonesian outlet Kumparan. She described Sheyna as a cheerful kindergarten student in Jakarta who brought happiness to those around her. The family has asked for prayers for Raisha’s recovery so she can reunite with relatives back home.
Under Singapore law, causing death by careless driving is an offense under Section 65 of the Road Traffic Act. First-time offenders may face up to three years in prison, fines of up to S$10,000, and driving disqualification. Harsher penalties may apply if the driving is deemed dangerous or reckless.
