A YOUNG man died after he was flung out of the open window of a car driven by his close friend early Monday morning.

The impact of the expressway accident had sent the vehicle spinning.

Just 22, Mr Muhammad Habibullah Mohd Haniffa was killed after suffering multiple injuries to his head and body. He died on the spot, just several minutes' drive away from his Telok Blangah flat.

It is believed the full-time Singapore Civil Defence Force national serviceman was not wearing a seatbelt.

The 19-year-old driver, also a full-time national serviceman, was unhurt. He was arrested for drink-driving and is out on bail.

The 3am accident took place when the two buddies were in the white Honda Civic along the Ayer Rajah Expressway going towards Tuas.

It is believed the driver was sending Habib - as Mr Habibullah is known to friends - home after a night out together. Friends said they were both on leave.

But near the Keppel Road exit, the driver apparently lost control of his car. It crashed into the central divider, and the impact sent the vehicle spinning.

Mr Habibullah was flung off his seat and out of the front passenger window, which had been wound down.

It was a black New Year's eve for Mr Habibullah's family, and friends who attended the funeral on Monday.

His father, Mr Mohd Haniffa Packir Maidin, 53, said his son, who left the house after 11pm, was very filial, helpful and responsible.

The second eldest of his four children had planned to resume his polytechnic engineering studies after national service, which he would have completed before the end of this year.

Mr Habibullah's studies were disrupted after he met with a serious motorcycle accident while working part-time as a food delivery man.

This caused him to break his leg, and left him with a slight limp.

Read the full report in Tuesday's edition of The Straits Times.