A coroner’s inquiry began on February 20, 2025, investigating the death of seven-year-old Nivya Rameshwar, who died after being hit by a school bus at The Topiary condominium in Fernvale, Sengkang.
The accident happened around 6:19am on August 15, 2024, on a carpark service road near block 23 of the condominium. Nivya, a Primary 2 student, was waiting for her school bus when the incident occurred.
The family’s domestic helper, Sivakumar Ilavarasi, had told Nivya to wait at the gate while she crossed the road to place the girl’s school bags on the opposite side, promising to return and carry Nivya across.
During this time, school bus driver Phua Hak Heong was driving along the single-lane carpark service road after picking up another student. Mr. Phua slowed down after noticing Ms. Sivakumar crossing from his right. He reported not seeing Nivya before feeling an impact on the front right section of his bus.
Nivya’s father, Rameshwar Khirodhar, heard screams from his balcony and rushed down to find his daughter. He carried her to his car to check her condition. His wife, a nurse, also came down and immediately recognized the severity of their daughter’s injuries.
Station Inspector Jeff Tan, a Traffic Police investigation officer, presented evidence including three video recordings. One footage from a residential unit showed a smaller shadow, believed to be Nivya, staying in the middle of the road for about 10 seconds before stepping backward as the bus approached.
Investigators found the carpark service road had no pedestrian crossing. A wall near block 23, higher than those at other blocks in the condominium, possibly blocked drivers’ views of pedestrians.
The school bus had an in-vehicle camera, but no recordings were obtained due to SD card issues. The private road had no legal speed limit, but a recommended speed of 15kmh to 20kmh.
State Coroner Adam Nakhoda requested additional investigations, including an analysis of whether the bus driver could have seen someone of Nivya’s height (118cm) and determination of the wall’s exact height. The coroner also asked for verification of whether a breathalyser test was conducted on Mr. Phua.
The autopsy report confirmed Nivya died from chest and abdominal injuries consistent with those sustained in a traffic incident. She was pronounced dead at approximately 7:30am at Sengkang General Hospital.
