The 56-year-old plumber would take his girlfriend to work on his motorcycle every morning.
But tragedy struck last Saturday when their motorcycle was hit by a car.
When Mr Lim regained consciousness, he was already in an ambulance.
He was still dazed and in pain, but he was worried about the condition of his girlfriend, 46-year-old factory supervisor Lau Lee Kiau.
Mr Lim asked about her condition and was initially told by the paramedics that his girlfriend was getting resuscitated.
But he was hit with the bad news when he reached Tan Tock Seng Hospital – a police officer told him that Madam Lau had died.
Mr Lim cried several times as he recalled the accident, saying he had not come to terms with her death.
He told Chinese daily Lianhe Wanbao yesterday: “Why did the car hit us from behind?
“We were both in the accident. Why didn’t she take me with her?”
The accident happened at about 8am at the junction of Ang Mo Kio Avenue 5 and Ang Mo Kio Industrial Park 2 towards Upper Thomson Road.
The details of the accident, which also involved a taxi, are unclear.
CONSCIOUS
Besides Mr Lim, a 51 year-old-man was also taken conscious to the same hospital.
The 17-year-old car driver, who did not have a driving licence, fled the scene after the accident. He was later arrested for causing death by a rash act.
Mr Lim said he and Madam Lau would take the same route every day. The accident took place less than 1km from her workplace.
“We were only two traffic lights away from her workplace,” added Mr Lim.
Mr Lim was also badly injured by the accident. His spine was fractured in two places and he broke his right leg and ankle.
He went through surgery yesterday afternoon and is concerned that he would not be able to recover fully because his job requires him to lift heavy items.
Mr Lim said: “I will just deal with matters one step at a time.
“She is dead, I don’t know what else I can do.”
When The New Paper visited Mr Lim last night, his right leg was in a cast. He was recovering in a general ward and still groggy after a four-hour operation.
TNP reported yesterday that Madam Lau was a divorcee who held down three jobs to raise her 17-year-old son and 13-year-old daughter.
Her ex-husband told Lianhe Wanbao that he would move in with his children to take care of them.
The 50-year-old cabby said that they drifted apart after the divorce.
“I will try to convince my daughter to live together as a family after the funeral,” he added.
“The kids are still young, I promised my ex-wife that I’d take care of them and I will.”
He also expressed regrets that he was not able to see his ex-wife for the last time.
Trying to control his tears, he said: “I can’t accept that she’s dead. We can’t forgive the driver.”
The penalty for causing death by a rash act is up to five years’ jail, or a fine, or both.
This article was first published on May 24, 2016.
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