The Straits Instances baggage gold at Wan-Ifra Asian Media Awards

SINGAPORE – When 5 individuals died in a automotive crash in Tanjong Pagar on the second day of Chinese language New Yr in February final 12 months, a staff of Straits Instances reporters raced to the accident website.

They fanned out throughout the realm ranging from the wee hours of the morning, talking to bystanders and residents, to try to piece collectively an account of the crash, which occurred at about 5am.

For his or her work, The Straits Instances received the gold award on the World Affiliation of Information Publishers’ (Wan-Ifra) Asian Media Awards on Monday (Might 23).

At about 5.40am on Feb 13, 2021, a white BMW M4 crashed right into a shophouse in Tanjong Pagar and burst into flames. All 5 males within the automotive died.

Mr Jonathan Lengthy Junwei, 29, was the driving force, and the 4 males with him have been Mr Eugene Yap Zheng Min, 29, Mr Elvin Tan Yong Hao, 28, Mr Teo Qi Xiang, 26, and Mr Gary Wong Hong Chieh, 29.

First on the scene was ST crime correspondent David Solar, who had been given a tip-off concerning the crash and was on the accident website at about 6am.

Mr Solar, 29, stated he remembers listening to individuals wailing, and a “lingering odor from the explosion”.

Different reporters from the paper joined him quickly after, working underneath stress to assemble as a lot details about the crash and the victims, and maintaining readers up to date with rolling information protection.

The accident rapidly turned the largest story of the day, with movies of the crash extensively distributed on social media platforms.

There have been many unanswered questions. For example, who have been the victims, and the way did the accident occur? And within the movies on-line, who was the lady working into the hearth, and was she attempting to save lots of somebody?

Tamil Murasu deputy information editor Irshath Mohamed, who was on responsibility that day on the SPH Media Belief sister publication, and ST multimedia correspondent Cheow Sue-Ann quickly arrived on the accident website.

In the meantime, ST journalist Ng Wei Kai, transport correspondent Kok Yufeng and others have been working remotely to hint the victims’ identities, which the police had not disclosed on the time.

Their work concerned trawling by social media accounts and speaking to family and friends, then cross-checking the data with the police for official verification.

That was how The Straits Instances came upon that the lady seen working into the hearth was Mr Lengthy’s fiancee, Ms Raybe Oh Siew Huey, 26. The previous air stewardess was attempting to save lots of Mr Lengthy from the burning wreckage however acquired badly burned consequently.