Go-Ahead bus makes wrong turn into Loyang estate damaging several cars; driver, 70, assisting police
The police said that it was alerted to a "hit-and-run accident" involving three cars and a bus early on the morning of Tuesday (Jan 20), adding that investigations are ongoing.
A screengrab of a front door camera video depicting a Go-Ahead Singapore bus making an incorrect turn in a traffic incident on Jan 20 where the bus is said to have damaged several vehicles. (Image: Instagram/sgfollowsall)
This audio is generated by an AI tool.
SINGAPORE: A 70-year-old Go-Ahead Singapore bus driver is assisting the police with investigations after making a wrong turn into a Loyang landed housing estate and grazing several vehicles parked along the roadside on Tuesday (Jan 20).
The traffic incident was captured in a now-viral clip posted to the Instagram account @sgfollowsall that appears to be closed-circuit television (CCTV) front door camera footage from a resident.
In the 54-second video posted on Jan 20, a bus can be seen turning into a road close to a vehicle parked by the roadside. Another dashcam video circulating on social media showed the same bus driving close to several parked cars down a road.
In response to queries from CNA, the police said it was alerted to a "hit-and-run accident" involving three cars and a bus along Loyang Rise at about 5.05am that day.
No injuries were reported and a 70-year-old male bus driver is assisting with ongoing investigations, the police added.
Public transport operator Go-Ahead Singapore confirmed on its Facebook page that a bus was involved in a traffic incident along Loyang Rise on Jan 20 and said this occurred following the temporary closure of Loyang Avenue towards Tampines Avenue 7.
CNA has asked the firm for more information on exactly where the incident occurred, how the closure of Loyang Avenue relates to it and whether any passengers were on board the bus at the time.
In the Facebook post on Jan 20, the bus operator said that the bus driver involved made an "incorrect turn" into Loyang Rise and "grazed" several vehicles parked along the roadside.
"We are deeply sorry for the distress, inconvenience and damage caused, and we take full responsibility for this incident," it stated.
"Safety remains our top priority, and we are having a safety time-out with all our bus captains to reinforce adherence to established procedures."
The bus operator added that its team had visited affected residents in person on the day of the incident.
Ms Valerie Lee, Member of Parliament for Pasir Ris-Changi Group Representation Constituency, said in a Facebook post on Tuesday that she had been keeping tabs on the situation after being informed of the incident.
Ms Lee visited the Loyang Rise and Loyang View estate to check on residents and spoke with those who were at home at the time.
On Thursday, she told CNA that when she personally spoke to some of the residents impacted by the incident on Tuesday evening, they said that Go-Ahead Singapore had already reached out to them and some residents' vehicles had already been sent to workshops for repair.
"While the incident caused understandable inconvenience, many residents expressed that their main concern was the safety of road users. They were somewhat relieved that it happened in the wee hours of the morning and that no one was injured," said Ms Lee.
She added that she had conveyed the residents' feedback to Go-Ahead Singapore, including emphasising the importance of reviewing measures to prevent such incidents from happening again.
"At the same time, I highlighted the need to look after the mental well-being of the 70-year-old bus captain, who would understandably be shaken by the incident," said Ms Lee.
CNA has reached out to Go-Ahead Singapore for further comment on the incident.
