30-year-old Singaporean driver who killed woman while on etomidate jailed
A 30-year-old man who killed an elderly woman while driving under the influence of etomidate received more than six years of jail time on 11 Nov.
Before the fatal accident, he had been involved in three more crashes in the span of five months.
Source: Court documents via Lianhe Zaobao
Witness spotted driver weaving left and right on BKE
Singaporean driver Lim Jinsheng was involved in a fatal accident on 8 Nov 2025.
A witness noticed Lim’s rental car weaving left and right unsteadily within a Bukit Timah Expressway (BKE) lane. They then followed the vehicle.
At around 2.51pm, Lim drove into Teck Whye Lane and arrived at a T-junction.
Source: Google Maps
He reportedly stopped despite the way being clear.
At that moment, two elderly women, aged 83 and 84, were preparing to cross the road.
Lim’s car veered towards them, mounted the kerb onto the pavement, and crashed into both of them.
Driver on etomidate did not respond after fatally hitting elderly woman
The car’s wheels continued to spin even after the crash.
The witness driver went over and told Lim to get out, but he did not respond.
Another bystander called the police, reporting that Lim was holding onto a vape and appeared to be in a “zombie” state.
83-year-old Mdm Tan Kim Poh was pronounced dead in the hospital at 4.10pm, with skull and rib fractures. She arrived with no heartbeat and in an unconscious state.
Meanwhile, 84-year-old Mdm Yong Toh Yin suffered a fractured left hip and left wrist. She was hospitalised for 11 days.
Driver tests positive for etomidate after arrest
The police arrested Lim at the accident site, finding etomidate in his blood after a test.
He claimed that he had blacked out while reaching for his water bottle. Then, someone woke him up, telling him that he had struck someone.
He described seeing stars and hearing ringing in his ears.
As it turned out, this was not Lim’s first accident that year. He caused four accidents in just over four months.
Past midnight on 5 July 2025, Lim crashed a rented car into a lamp post and sign after mounting a kerb along Yishun Avenue 8.
Source: Court documents via Lianhe Zaobao
He caused around S$1,950 in damages, as well as S$4,360 in car repair costs.
Lim told the police that he had lost concentration due to tiredness and was not arrested.
Previously caught transporting Kpods
Subsequently, at 11pm on 16 July 2025, he rear-ended a car on the Central Expressway (CTE).
The 41-year-old driver of the other car received three days of medical leave due to pain in his head.
On the evening of 10 Aug, he veered off the road and crashed into a traffic light and sign.
Source: Court documents via Lianhe Zaobao
This time, police officers found two Kpods in his pockets and 38 more in a bag. He also tested positive for etomidate in his blood.
He was allegedly transporting the Kpods for a commission of S$300 to S$500.
Prosecutor says only luck prevented serious injuries in previous crashes
On 11 Nov 2026, Lim pleaded guilty to seven charges, including reckless driving causing death, driving under the influence of drugs, careless driving, and possession of etomidate.
The prosecutor, Yohanes Ng, argued that Lim failed to change his driving habits despite ample opportunity.
Source: Court documents via Lianhe Zaobao
Mr Ng said that only “sheer luck” prevented his first three accidents from causing serious harm. As his final accident cost an innocent woman her life, the prosecutor wanted a harsh sentence.
He sought a sentence between six years, nine months, and seven weeks to seven years, 13 months, and nine weeks in jail.
Mr Ng also requested 12 to 14 years’ ban from driving for Lim.
Driver wrote apology letter to family of woman he hit
Lawyer Ariffin Sha represented Lim pro bono. He read out an apology letter written by his client.
In it, Lim claimed remorse for his “selfish actions”.
This accident happened because I did things without realising the grave consequences, and no words will ever describe how sorry and guilty I am, for my actions have caused insurmountable loss and distress to the victim’s family.
He called it his biggest regret and said he would carry the guilt for the rest of his life.
“I’m truly sorry for everything,” Lim wrote.
Ultimately, the judge sentenced him to six years, nine months, and 15 weeks in jail. He also received a driving ban for 14 years.
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Featured image adapted from Google Maps and court documents via Lianhe Zaobao.
