Taxi crashes into Bugis+ shopping mall; injuring one worker

An SMRT taxi crashed into a Bugis+ shop unit that was under renovation, injuring one worker on April 11, 2016. PHOTO: LIANHE WANBAO
The taxi stand where the accident happened was along Queen Street. PHOTO: SHIN MIN DAILY NEWS

SINGAPORE - A taxi crashed into a shop unit that was under renovation at Bugis+ and injured a worker late on Monday (April 11) night.

But the driver claimed that his foot was on the brake pedal during the entire accident, Lianhe Wanbao reported.

The accident at around 10.50pm along Queen Street involved two taxis, police said.

The SMRT taxi ran into the back of a Comfort taxi at the taxi stand, then swerved and drove into a shop at Bugis+ that was under renovation.

The mall was closed, but there were some workers in the shop, and one of them was injured.

The male victim in his 20s was taken to Tan Tock Seng Hospital, police said.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said that he was conscious, but had sustained head injuries and complained of giddiness.

Police investigations are ongoing.

SMRT said that the taxi involved was a Chevrolet Epica.

"One of SMRT's Epica taxis was involved in an accident along Queen Street yesterday (April 11) night at around 10:50pm. Investigations into the accident are being carried out by SMRT and the Police," said Mr Patrick Nathan, vice-president of corporate information and communications.

A witness told Shin Min Daily News that bystanders stopped to help the taxi driver.

Wood and metal bars fell as the taxi drove into the mall, he said, then four people came forward to help the taxi driver out of his vehicle.

The 65-year-old taxi driver told Lianhe Wanbao that he did not know why the car suddenly drove forward.

When it hit the Comfort taxi in front, he panicked and swerved to the left, he said. The car then crashed into the shop, and hit two panels of wood before stopping.

He told Wanbao that his foot was on the brake pedal throughout the incident.

The driver also said he did not see the workers in the shop until after the crash.

"There was white paper over the shop window, then I crashed into wood, and my view was completely blocked," he said in Mandarin, adding that he saw the workers only after he got out of his taxi.

Mr David Peh, marketing communications manager of Bugis+, said that the taxi drove into a level one unit from the taxi stand.

"The unit affected is undergoing renovation works, and a construction worker was unfortunately injured. We immediately called an ambulance for the injured worker, who has been warded for observation," he said.

The area affected has been certified to be safe, and they will be following up with the authorities and the injured worker, he added.

"We also cordoned off the affected area, and no one else was hurt in the incident. The area has been certified safe by an independent professional engineer and the cordon was removed at 2.15am today (April 12)," he said. "We regret any inconvenience caused to our shoppers and tenants due to this incident."

The shop was formerly a pizzeria, Shin Min reported.

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