A 69-year-old woman fell unconscious and was taken to Tan Tock Seng Hospital yesterday after being knocked down by a minibus while crossing the road.

Police received a call at about 12pm informing them about the accident at Toa Payoh Lorong 1, outside Braddell MRT Station.

The woman has been hospitalised. It is understood she underwent surgery on her ribs and leg.

The minibus was carrying children, who were picked up by another bus after the incident.

Bystanders gathered to direct traffic away from the scene before the Singapore Civil Defence Force arrived.

An ambulance arrived about five minutes after the accident happened. A bystander opened an umbrella, which the woman had been carrying, to shelter her.

The bus driver, who wanted to be known only as Mr Huang, 40, said that he was making a right turn at the junction while the traffic light was green.

The pedestrian crossing light, he said, was also green, and he did not notice the elderly woman when he was turning.

He added that he had been taking four pupils to their primary school in Yishun, and the accident took place about 10 minutes after he started his journey. He said that he has more than 10 years of driving experience but started that particular route only in August.