14 taken to hospital after bus collision at Bukit Batok interchange
SINGAPORE – Two buses were involved in an accident at Bukit Batok Bus Interchange on Sunday afternoon (July 11), leaving one on its side.
The buses, both of which were plying the feeder service route 945, are operated by Tower Transit.
Three drivers and 15 commuters were involved in the accident, said a Tower Transit spokesman.
All passengers were on the bus that flipped, while the other bus was not carrying any passengers when the accident occurred at about 5pm.
An SBS Transit bus captain who was not driving was also injured and sent to the hospital.
The accident is believed to have occurred when one bus – the one without passengers – was making a turn within the interchange. It collided with the second bus, which was making its way into the interchange.
As a result of the collision, the second bus smashed through a low fence and landed on its side, on a ramp that serves as an entry and exit point for other buses.
In response to queries from The Straits Times, the police said they were alerted to the accident at about 5pm on Sunday.
Fourteen people were taken to the hospital and investigations are ongoing, they added.
In a Facebook post at about 9pm on Sunday, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said it received a call for assistance at the location of the accident.
“Upon SCDF’s arrival, a passenger bus was found lying on its side. Eight persons were inside the bus while another nine were found outside the bus. The rear windscreen of the bus which had shattered served as an entry point for SCDF rescuers.
“The rescuers created an additional point of entry at the front of the bus by using an electrical saw to cut through the front windscreen. Once inside, rescue equipment were used to cut several poles off so as to create space for the casualties to be rescued safely,” it said.
Two people were carried off the bus on stretchers by SCDF rescuers while the remaining six were guided on foot out to safety.
SCDF’s Emergency Medical Services personnel assessed a total of 17 people for injuries.
SCDF added that eight people were taken to Ng Teng Fong General Hospital, four to National University Hospital, and two to Tan Tock Seng Hospital.
The remaining three had minor injuries and refused to be taken to the hospital.
The spokesman for Tower Transit said that the 14 who were taken to the hospital included the driver of the bus that was hit, and an SBS Transit bus driver who was not driving but was also injured in the accident.
The spokesman also said that Tower Transit is assisting the police with investigations and the driver of the bus without passengers has been suspended pending the investigation. He was not injured.
The spokesman added: “Staff and management were on site to assist the SCDF in attending to the injured and were present at the hospital to provide further support.”
“We apologise to all our passengers who were involved in this unfortunate accident and those who may have been inconvenienced by it. We have reached out to the injured passengers and are actively providing assistance,” he added.
ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG
As one of the entrances to the interchange was blocked by the accident, Tower Transit staff facilitated passenger boarding from the side of the interchange that was not affected to prevent service disruptions, he said.
When ST got to the scene at about 6.30pm, bus services were running normally, with marshals deployed by Tower Transit calling out the numbers of bus services, and directing passengers to the correct area to board buses.
Police officers were on scene for crowd control, blocking access to those trying to get a better view of the wreckage.
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