RSAF Serviceman Killed In Accident

Monday, 16th November 2009

A 21-year-old Republic of Singapore Air Forces (RSAF) regular serviceman died in a road accident along a highway in North Florida, United States. Lieutenant (LTA) Chee Zhi Hao and two other RSAF pilot trainees were returning from a visit to the Pensacola Naval Air Station and was driving along US Highway 331 near Freeport. The Toyota Corolla was travelling on inner lane veered onto a grassy shoulder and moved for some distance before Lim slammed on the brakes. It travelled for another 14m before hitting the back of a parked Chevrolet truck.

Toyota Corolla
Photo Credit: Flickr.

LTA Chee was quickly evacuated by air to the Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola, Florida, where he received immediate medical attention. Doctors tried to save him to no avail.

The other two servicemen were also injured and taken to hospital. LTA Lim Jun Kai, 23, was warded at Fort Walton Beach Medical Centre, Florida, and is now in stable condition. The other serviceman, LTA Ingkiriwang Wei Zhi Reeve, 22, has been discharged after receiving treatment from the Sacred Heart Hospital on the Emerald Coast, Florida.

RWC
Photo Credit: Flickr.

The three men arrived in the US in June 2009 to attend the Initial Entry to Rotary Wing Course at the US Army Aviation Centre, Fort Rucker, Alabama. It is an entry-level programme for trainee helicopter pilots and schedule to complete their course in Jan 2010.

Update Feb 2010: Lim Jun Kai, 23, an RSAF lieutenant, has also been issued a traffic citation for careless driving from the Florida Highway Patrol.

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