Daily Lessons from Life 02 October 2010 - Student killed in London after hit-and-run accident

"Fri, Oct 01, 2010 AsiaOne - Student killed in London after hit-and-run accident

A SINGAPOREAN student in London died after being knocked down and dragged for a about a kilometre by a hit-and-run driver.

The 20-year-old, Miss Tan Mingwei, was hit outside Hampstead's Royal Free Hospital, reported The Daily Mail. She is a A*Star scholar from Singapore studying medicine in Cambridge University.

The medical undergraduate at Cambridge University was found with serious injuries at around 2am, outside the home of former French rugby international Thomas Castaignede, which was 1.5km away from the hospital.

A car has been recovered and a 50-year old man has also been arrested and in the custody of police. It was reported that the police said it was possible that the driver was not aware that he had hit Ms. Tan."

This is a very depressing and sad news. An innocent young life lost due to an accident. This followed by my comments yesterday on the loss of a young life due to cyber-bullying in the USA where an 18-year old committed suicide after his gay encountered was broadcast live by his roommate and another student in the Rutgers University. Of course, the circumstances could not have been more different. The USA case is one of possibly teenage prank went awry or, hopefully not, a sinister and wicked anti-gay action. While this UK case is an accident.

Lessons for me are:

1. life can be, or is, fickle! It is most unkind to take away life in an accident. This is especially so when the victim is a pedestrian!! It is one thing to lose a life which is suffering from a long term illness that deteriorated and quite another to suddenly lost a life which obviously have many dreams and promises to fulfill!! It is just NOT FAIR!!!;

2. what the dead passed on, the living has to grieve the unexpected loss. There will be initial shock, denial, questioning the fairness of life, and many myriad of emotions racing through or surging in the minds of the surviving parents, relatives and friends. It will be very hard for all of them. Hopefully they can get all these emotions out of their system quickly so that they can begin the healing process of accepting that the one they loved and cherished has moved on - no matter how unfair and incomprenhensive it may be. For the Christians, some will say it is the God's will as He brings the lost life to be with him. For some, it will be harder to accept;

3. it will be foolish to give out advice and pretend that one knows the deepest grief of the family and those who loved her so much. I just want to send my condolences to the parents, sister, family, relatives and those who know her/love her and cherish her.

As for the suspected driver, I hope he really did not realized he had hit Ms Tan. Otherwise, he is a monster and must be brought to justice. Then again, if life pulled a twisty tale, sadly, this could be his 1st accident.

Be strong for the living.