Madam Shanti Baskaralingam, 32, was walking down the pavement opposite Blk 210 Toa Payoh Lorong 8 with her daughter Pratheepa, 15, and son Sarugesh, 3, when a collision on the other side of the road sent a lorry charging her way.

The Toa Payoh resident is now warded at Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH), in a critical condition, said her husband Maheswaran Baskaralingam.

The accident happened at about 9.45am, after a container truck crashed into the lorry, which was pulling out of a carpark. The impact sent the vegetable-laden lorry veering across the road and onto the pavement.

The housewife shoved the children out of danger the second she saw it. Both of them were not hit by the lorry but the 3-year-old suffered a hip fracture from the impact of the fall, and has been warded at KK Women's and Children's Hospital.

'It was so scary... the lorry suddenly came out of nowhere. It was a nightmare to see my mother flying into the air and hitting the ground later,' said Pratheepa.

'I know my mother wanted to make sure we are safe first because she loves us very much, I hope she will make it through because my family cannot do without her.'

Her father, a 45-year-old chef, rushed to the scene after she called him.The family, including a third child, who was in school at the time, lives in Blk 225, about a minute's walk from where the accident happened.

The driver of the lorry, who only gave his name as Mr Goh and is in his 30s, suffered minor injuries and was taken to TTSH. He was deeply apologetic to the family. 'I didn't expect the other vehicle to come so fast... I am really very sorry towards the family,' he said.

The driver of the container truck, a Mr Ong, was not injured, and explained that he did not see the lorry coming out of the carpark, and had to brake suddenly.

The police are investigating.

The family kept vigil at both hospitals last night, shuffling between KKH and TTSH. 'This is so unfair... It is not their fault at all because they were walking on the walkway. I am praying hard that everything will be fine,' said Mr Baskaralingam.