SINGAPORE - A walkway shelter at an open-air carpark in Bukit Batok collapsed on Friday (June 17) morning, crushing a car and drawing curious onlookers.
The Straits Times understands that a lorry with an attached crane had crashed into the shelter, which linked Blocks 116 and 118 at Bukit Batok West Avenue 6.
The lorry driver, a man in his 60s, was arrested, a police spokesman said in response to media queries. No other vehicles were involved in the accident and there were no injuries.
Jurong-Clementi Town Council general manager Ho Thian Poh told The Straits Times that the driver, who was leaving the carpark, had forgotten to lower the attached crane.
This caused the crane to collide with the roof of the shelter, which has a height clearance limit of 4.5m.
The shelter's collapse, which blocked off access to a section of the carpark, also crushed a blue sedan parked nearby and damaged the roof of an attached wheelchair access ramp.
Mr Ho said the town council has engaged a contractor to remove the fallen shelter and will be distributing circulars to explain what had happened to the 308 affected residents from blocks, 116, 117 and 118.
The town council will also assist the owner of the damaged car in his claim for compensation.
In a statement issued on Friday afternoon, the Building & Construction Authority (BCA) said the professional engineer (PE) appointed by the town council had confirmed that the structural integrity of the adjacent HDB blocks was not affected by the incident.
"BCA had directed the owner (Jurong-Clementi Town Council) to appoint a PE to carry out a detailed investigation and recommend permanent rectification works," it added.
"In the interest of public safety, the affected area will be cordoned off until the collapsed and damaged parts of the sheltered walkway have been removed."
Freelance photographer Yeo Kai Wen, 27, said he witnessed the aftermath of the incident at around 9.30am from his unit at a nearby block.
At least six police officers and several police cars, as well as the lorry, were at the scene.
"The police officers were setting up a cordon around the affected area. I also saw officers stationed at the carpark's entrance to warn off cars trying to enter the carpark," he added.
The Singapore Civil Defence Force said it dispatched a fire engine and an ambulance to the scene, but its assistance was not required.
Photos of the incident were also shared by Facebook user Irene Soh.
Police investigations are ongoing.