Michael Ong Kong Meng was the first person to be killed in Singapore in a crash involving a defective Takata airbag. - Photo: ST
SINGAPORE: The driver of a car involved in a chain collision in 2022 was killed when a defective Takata airbag in the steering wheel released shrapnel which pierced his head, a Coroner’s Inquiry has found.
In findings delivered on Wednesday (Jan 21), State Coroner Adam Nakhoda said that Michael Ong Kong Meng’s death was caused by a traumatic injury caused by the penetration of a metal fragment.
He added: “I found that his death was clearly untimely and tragic. I found it all the more tragic as it was caused by the device that was designed to reduce injury and save lives.”
Ong, 57, was the first person to be killed in Singapore in a crash involving a defective Takata airbag, which was linked to more than a dozen deaths around the world, and many more injuries.
Takata once supplied airbags for about one in five new cars manufactured by companies like Ford, Ferrari, Audi and Honda.
Around 2013, investigators discovered that defective Takata steering wheel airbags were capable of ejecting metal shrapnel when deployed in an accident.
Airbags manufactured by the Japanese automotive parts company were then subjected to a worldwide recall due to defects that posed a significantly higher risk of injury or death.
Ong was involved in a chain collision involving six cars while driving along the Seletar Expressway (SLE) at about 8am on Oct 10, 2022.
His car - which was registered in March 2009 and imported and sold by the now defunct Hong Sin Motors - was the fifth vehicle in the crash.
Four other cars ahead of him had managed to slow down and avoid impact, but Ong’s crashed into the vehicle ahead of him, which caused it to surge forward and collide with the third car.
The investigation officer of the case, who had given evidence earlier, said that the impact of crashing into the fourth vehicle had caused airbags in Ong’s vehicle to be deployed.
The airbags in the other cars were not deployed.
Said the State Coroner: “As a result of the impact, the airbag was deployed and due to the defect on the driver’s side, a round metal fragment was expelled at a considerable speed through his teeth and the roof of his mouth.”
Ong suffered extensive injuries and was taken to hospital unconscious. He died later that same morning, and an autopsy found that he had sustained a penetrating injury to his head. - The Straits Times/ANN
