A 51-year-old cab driver was minutes away from his home early yesterday morning when he lost control of his taxi, ploughed through a central divider and skidded across opposing lanes on Sin Ming Road before crashing into a drain.

Mr Choo Wai Hon was later pronounced dead at the scene by Singapore Civil Defence Force paramedics.

According to evening daily Shin Min, his 59-year-old sister said he usually drove his ComfortDelGro cab from 4pm to the next morning, and was probably on his way back to his flat in Sin Ming Road when the crash occurred.

Police, who are investigating the accident, said they received a call about the crash at 3.41am.

Mr Choo's Vietnamese wife is believed to have arrived in Singapore yesterday evening to attend to his last rites.

A ComfortDelGro spokesman said the company has been in touch with his family. "We are also helping them the best we can during this difficult time," said the spokesman.