A man in his 60s was run over and killed by an SBS Transit bus outside the Toa Payoh interchange early yesterday.

A 36-year-old male bus driver has been arrested in connection with the accident, which occurred along Toa Payoh Lorong 6, towards Braddell Road.

The pedestrian was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics, according to the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), which was alerted to the incident at 6.20am.

Retiree Lam Koon Heng, 57, told The Straits Times that he was on bus service number 238, which was about to leave the interchange, when the bus captain told passengers to alight as there had been an accident. "We were told that the bus (service number 235) in front of us had knocked down a pedestrian," said Mr Lam.

"The bus involved in the accident was blocking the interchange exit."

SBS Transit's senior vice-president for corporate communications, Ms Tammy Tan, said it was assisting police investigations.

"We are very saddened and sorry that this has happened," she said. "Our immediate priority is to get in touch with the family of the deceased and to render assistance."

A photo of the accident was uploaded by Facebook user Kaede Tseng, who wrote: "Major accident in front of Toa Payoh bus interchange. One blue tent spotted. Condolences to the deceased's family."

Office administrator Dawn Chan, in her 40s, was on service 59, which usually drives past the interchange on its way to the expressway. "Traffic was diverted because of the accident, and it took us 15 to 20 minutes to get past the diversion and get out of Toa Payoh," she said.

Apologising to commuters and motorists for the delays and inconvenience caused, SBS Transit's Ms Tan said staff were deployed to assist with traffic diversion and guide people to the interchange.

Pedestrians who regularly use that road crossing said the road sees heavy foot traffic during morning and evening peak hours.

Some even admitted jaywalking to get to their destinations faster. To get from Toa Payoh Town Park to the train station, pedestrians have to cross two roads - Toa Payoh Lorong 6, then the road leading out from the bus interchange.

"It is quite tempting to just jaywalk. There aren't always buses coming out of the interchange, especially early in the morning from 6.30am to 7am," said full-time national serviceman Edwin Teong, 20.

• Additional reporting by Kok Xing Hui