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CRANE CRASH: The lorry's attached crane hit a height warning gantry, dislodging it (above). It fell onto Mr Lek's taxi (next picture), denting its roof and smashing the rear windscreen.
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A LORRY crashed into an overhead gantry in Sunset Way, which is in the Clementi area, yesterday.
The impact tore the gantry sign, which warned of a height limit, off its metal frame and sent it crashing onto an oncoming taxi.
The cab driver was unhurt but his passenger, who complained of back pains, was taken to National University Hospital.
The roof of the taxi was dented and the rear windscreen shattered by the impact, which took place at around 11.30am.
The lorry, which had an attached crane, was coming out of Sunset Way after unloading some cement when it crashed into the 4.5m gantry just before an old railway bridge.
It appears the crane had not been fully lowered before the crash.
Cabby Lek Yong Meng, 59, had been driving from Clementi Road to a neighbourhood in Sunset Way. His passenger, who is believed to be in his 70s, was seated in the back of the taxi.
Said Mr Lek: 'I was shocked when I heard a very loud sound. I stopped by the side of the road and looked behind as I was worried about my passenger.'
The passenger was stunned but did not appear to be injured. Later, however, Mr Lek called for an ambulance when the passenger complained of back pains.
The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has warned crane owners about such accidents. In October last year, it distributed brochures to all lorry crane owners to remind them of the height limits on roads.
According to the LTA, from 2000 to 2006, there were 111 cases of vehicles hitting road structures such as pedestrian overhead bridges, gantries and covered walkways.
Of these reported cases, 68 per cent occurred because drivers had forgotten to lower or retract the cranes fitted on their lorries before driving off.
According to an LTA spokesman yesterday, the police are investigating the matter and the authority will assist with investigations if necessary.
The LTA again reminded crane owners and drivers to be more aware of the consequences of their vehicles hitting road structures.
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