3-year-old boy hit by bicycle on park connector; mother appeals for help to locate cyclist

Pictures showing the different injuries that three-year-old Kyle Lin suffered when a bike knocked him down. PHOTOS: KASLYN TAN/FACEBOOK

SINGAPORE - The mother of a three-year-old boy, who was knocked down by a bicycle on a park connector on Sunday (Jan 10) morning, has appealed on Facebook for help to locate the cyclist.

The post has gone viral, garnering more than 10,000 shares since it was uploaded on Sunday afternoon.

The boy had to be taken by ambulance to KK Women's and Children's Hospital for treatment of his injuries, which included bruises, loose teeth and a cut on his chin that required stitches, said housewife Kaslyn Tan, 25.

The incident took place on a shared path for pedestrians and cyclists along the Serangoon Park Connector at around 11.15am.

Responding to queries from The Straits Times, the police said a report had been lodged over the incident and they are investigating it.

Ms Tan, who questioned the need for the cyclist to ride at such "lightning speed", said the man dismounted and apologised to her husband, Mr Lin Jian Xiong, who was alone at the time with their son, Kyle.

Mr Lin told The Straits Times that they had just finished their jog and were heading for breakfast. Kyle had been walking about two metres ahead of him when he spotted a nearby fitness corner and changed direction abruptly to cut across the path.

The cyclist, who was approaching from the opposite direction, only noticed Kyle at the last moment and attempted to swerve to his left to avoid a collision.

"His bike's right handle connected with my son's lip; Kyle lost a tooth from the crash and he was covered in blood," said Mr Lin, a 32-year-old air force engineer, who estimated that the cyclist had been travelling at between 30kmh and 40kmh.

"He (the cyclist) later told me that his feet were clipped to the bike's pedals and he had no brakes when I asked why he did not stop."

According to Ms Tan, the cyclist initially gave her husband $10 for medical expenses but later offered another $20. He then left without leaving his number.

"I was still in shock from the accident and was focused on stopping Kyle's bleeding, so I forgot to ask for his contact details," Mr Lin explained.

He took Kyle home to his wife before they decided to call 995 for an ambulance as they were told that a non-emergency ambulance would take too long to arrive.

Ms Tan's post also contained a plea for help to locate the cyclist so that the family could have a "peaceful closure".

Ms Tan described the cyclist as a 1.65m-tall Chinese man who appeared to be in his 40s. He was clad in cycling gear and said he stayed in Pasir Ris, she added.

In subsequent updates on the same post, Ms Tan also spoke about her son's condition after returning from the hospital, and thanked the National Parks Board (NParks) and Singapore Police Force (SPF) for rendering assistance.

Her son, she claimed, was unable to sleep or talk properly due to the pain and swelling. An X-ray found no bone damage but he would have to return to the hospital for check-ups and to remove his stitches.

He is also due to see a dentist on Tuesday (Jan 12) about his shaky teeth caused by the collision.

Mr Lin and his wife stressed that their aim was not to "defame" the cyclist.

"We want to raise awareness of this incident to the public and urge everyone - not just cyclists - to use the paths responsibly. It could happen to anyone," Mr Lin said.

Mr Victor Lye, the People's Action Party candidate for Aljunied GRC at the 2015 General Election, visited Kyle later that night as he said he was concerned about his condition and follow-up care.

Posting a photo of himself with the boy, Mr Lye wrote on Facebook: "The cyclist should not have ridden off. We must have rules, guidelines and a community etiquette to govern the safety and use of shared spaces."

Ms Tan said she received a call from NParks on Monday morning. It assured her that the agency would be working closely with the SPF and Ministry of Transport to enhance safety on foot and cycling paths at park connectors.

In a statement to The Straits Times, NParks' director for parks Chia Seng Jiang said the agency had contacted Ms Tan and was working with SPF to identify the cyclist.

As the Park Connector Network caters to different recreational activities, Mr Chia advised users to keep to the left of the shared track while reminding cyclists to keep a look out for pedestrians.

"NParks has also been working with the cycling community to promote responsible cycling through regular workshops and bike clinics," he added.

Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.