15 seconds was all it took. In 15 seconds, the lives of five friends hung in the balance. That was the time it had taken when the BMW crashed into the vacant shophouse to the time it burst into flames.
Another 20 seconds after that, Ms Raybe Oh was seen running towards the burning car. She was only 26 years old, a former air stewardess. It reports that she ran straight into the flame, not caring about her own safety, in a bid to save her friends in the car. She is the fiancee of the driver, Jonathan Long.
Raybe is now in critical condition, suffering burns of 80% to her body. She is from Johor and has been “performing in (getai) shows since she was 16 to help pay for her school fees while studying at a polytechnic here.”
She and Jonathan were planning to get married soon and were on house hunting before the tragedy happened last Saturday morning, the 2nd day of CNY.
The accident captured the imagination, and even ire, of the nation. Why ire? Because some observers felt that they had taken reckless risks with their young lives.
In fact, the papers today reports this: “They loved fast cars and luxury watches, living flashy lifestyles and were the envy of many on social media.” (reported by David Sun).
When the papers interviewed Ethan, a friend of the five who died in the crash, they were told that one of the passengers in the BMW, namely, Elvin, had wanted to “experience what it was like inside a BMW M4 before buying the same car.”
It is believed that the five and Raybe were at Ggang Tong, “a Korean eatery owner by a friend” that morning. And the restaurant was just located opposite the site of the crash. If you piece the whole picture together, it is nothing but a test-drive-cum-joy-ride that had gone awry with the most unfortunate consequences.
“The BMW is seen going from one end of a stretch of road to the other three times before losing control and crashing during the fourth time.”
There seems to be a tacit joint pact between the five friends to want to take the sports car for a spin. Alas, it took about 3.5 times from one end of the road to the other before the car sadly spun out of control and crashed.
Yes, the accident could have been avoided. It could have been avoided at the first test run or the second. Even the third test run ought to be enough to assist one in assessing the car’s ability. But somewhere between the third and the fourth ride, I guess foolhardiness took over and the five young men paid the ultimate price for it.
With tears in his eyes, Ethan said: “Whatever they did, you know, I agree it’s a stupid accident. But they have paid for it with their lives. For all the speculation, the fact is they’ve paid the ultimate price for it.”
The papers today also shared about the personal lives of the five and Raybe. Although they were young and living it up, yet, they also did volunteer work with the organisation, Hopes in Meals.
Ethan said that “they were charitable people, taking time out at least two or three times a year to help the elderly.”
In fact, the day before the crash, Jonathan, Raybe and Elvin were “helping to give out meals to low-income seniors living in rental flats at York Hill Estate in Tiong Bahru.”
Lesson? One. A really honest and even blunt one.
Personally, does it really matter that they had performed charity “at least two or three times a year to help the elderly”? And does it really matter that they were taking the car on a test drive, which became a joy ride, leading to a tragic end, thereby showing behaviour that was irresponsible? Like Ethan said: “They have paid the ultimate price for it”.
Yes, they have charitable hearts. Yes, they were flashy and young, “the envy of many in social media.” And yes, they had pushed the limit of the car ride that fateful morning, and maybe, on the second and third run, some of them in the car may have expressed some concerns about the speed. And yes, they or some of them had carried things too far, to a point of no return.
Alas, whatever they were before, whatever they have done and have not done, and whatever the opinions we have about them, they are gone. And that’s a fact. You can’t turn back time. If you could, that night would not have happened, and Raybe would not be lying in hospital as I write this, fighting for every breath in her grievously burnt young body.
Mind you, they are as young as some of our children, and who amongst our very own can be said to be always level headed and mature in their decision-making and actions? Even older folks commit silly mistakes or stupid ones. I for one know what I am talking about.
We have been there ourselves. We are often the victims of the circumstances. Our choices, stupid as they may be, do not exist in a vacuum. Most of us, I trust, are able to identify the feeling to want to go a little further, to test the situation more, and to push the envelop. We are all guilty of taking liberties when the opportunity avails itself to us. It is just a matter of degree, not of category. I have no delusions about that.
No, I am not excusing irresponsible conduct. A wrong is a wrong. Mind you, there are still right and wrong in this world. Truth is not fungible, depending on circumstances. I admit some situations are less straightforward than others. Yet, it was still a “stupid accident” and lifting one end of the rod of consequences means you lift the other end too. They are connected, that is, our choices and the consequences are connected, inseparable. There are no free pass (This ain’t the movie final destination - even that movie talked about consequences).
What I am saying is that they are gone. That fact cannot be reversed.
No doubt, we will have to learn from it. Remind our children, our loved ones, about the danger. Watch over them as best as we can as parents. But, now is not the time to cast stones at the coffin. Instead, it is time to toss white flowers as they are lowered. Culpability aside, they have paid the ultimate price. It is a tragedy, and that tragedy is the price tag.
Humanity at such time ought to come together, not turn away, while parents and loved ones grieve inconsolably and a young life is struggling to live. What defines us at such time should be what is shown in our collective hearts as a compassionate, supportive, understanding and hopeful community.
Virtues like these are truths that have only one manifestation; it is the manifestation of love for life, and this love joins us all in one common fate. For this could very well happen to the dearest of us, and we as grieving parents or friends similarly crave for the warmth of community, not the coldness of personal judgment.
Friends, there has never been a better time to suspend all judgments and close the gap in a bid to show love, understanding and compassion than such a time when five lives so young are gone, when hearts of loved ones are broken, and when a life so brave is fighting to live.
That’s humanity’s defining moment. And it’s just a choice away. Embrace it.
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