Five people were taken to hospital after a taxi, which had been involved in a road accident moments before, crashed into an outdoor sitting area of a bar along East Coast Road on Thursday night.

The police said a call was received at about 9pm, about an accident between a car and taxi. The ComfortDelgro taxi was then said to have ploughed through a cafe - which was closed at the time - before slamming through a low wall and landing in the crowded outdoor area of Georges Mad Bar & Grill where patrons were seated at tables.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force said that the five people were taken conscious to Changi General Hospital. Police are investigating the incident.

An eyewitness who only gave his name as Mr Deen, 24, told The Straits Times that he had been drinking with his friends at the bar's outdoor area when he heard two loud bangs. Before he knew it, the taxi crashed through the low wall and came to a stop after hitting a table beside his, which was occupied by about six people. He said: "One guy took most of the hit and he was dragged by the cab. But I don't think he was seriously injured because he could still walk with assistance after that."

"It seemed like a scene from the movies, and not in real life. I was stunned for a couple of seconds. I did not know what to do."