Cyclist in critical state after being hit by taxi

(Above) The traffic junction along Upper Changi Road East where Mr Wong Chee Hong was hit by a taxi while cycling. (Left) A screen grab from cabby Ivan Ho's in-car camera, which caught Mr Wong being hit by the other taxi on Tuesday night.
(Above) The traffic junction along Upper Changi Road East where Mr Wong Chee Hong was hit by a taxi while cycling. (Left) A screen grab from cabby Ivan Ho's in-car camera, which caught Mr Wong being hit by the other taxi on Tuesday night. PHOTOS:
JOYCE LIM, IVAN HO

The sister of avid cyclist Mr Wong Chee Hong told The Straits Times yesterday that he had taken his regular precautions before an accident which left him in a critical condition.

On Tuesday, the 52-year-old civil servant had been on his nightly cycle around his neighbourhood and was crossing a junction when a taxi making a right turn hit him.

Mr Wong was flung off his bike and the impact sent one of its wheels flying. Police were alerted to the 10pm accident at the junction of Upper Changi Road East and Somapah Road and Mr Wong was taken conscious to Changi General Hospital.

Mr Wong's sister, who declined to be named, told The Straits Times that her brother underwent surgery yesterday after suffering bleeding in his brain and a fractured thigh bone. He was still unconscious and in critical condition at press time.

"It was his usual routine to cycle in the neighbourhood after his work," she said. "My brother loves cycling and it is probably the only sport that he does. He was wearing a lime green cycling jersey and cycling tights that night. He is usually very careful on the road and would make sure that he has proper biking gear."

She added that Mr Wong, who has been cycling for more than 30 years, was less than five minutes from home.

Taxi driver Ivan Ho, 60, witnessed the accident while waiting for a red light and captured it on his in-car camera.

He told The Straits Times: "The lights were still in favour of the cyclist. I saw the cyclist riding past then I heard a loud bang. He was halfway across the traffic junction."

The video footage showed Mr Wong was halfway past the traffic junction when the green arrow signalling a right turn for oncoming traffic started blinking almost immediately.

A taxi appeared from the right side of the screen and hit Mr Wong inside the yellow box when the driver was making a right turn.

The 56-year-old cabby involved has been a relief driver with TransCab since 2006. He declined to be interviewed as he is still shaken from the accident, a TransCab spokesman said.

joycel@sph.com.sg

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