SINGAPORE - A 28-year-old man has been arrested in connection with a collision involving a Traffic Police patrol vehicle, after a car chase near the Geylang Serai Hari Raya Bazaar on Sunday (June 26) night.
An eyewitness, who declined to be named, said the police vehicle had been pursuing a car when it crashed into another car in front of a crowded bus stop at the junction of Geylang Road and Engku Aman Road at around 8.50pm.
"I heard sirens and when I turned around, I saw the police vehicle chasing a car. Seconds later, there was a loud bang and the police vehicle had collided with a BMW," he told The Straits Times.
A police spokesman said officers from the Traffic Police were performing routine vehicular checks along Lorong 101 Changi, in the direction of Changi Road, on Sunday night and while checking on a black car, the 28-year-old driver sped off from the location.
The suspect was arrested at about 2.20am on Monday for dangerous driving and other driving related offences.
A Singapore Civil Defence Force spokesman said it was alerted to the incident at 8.56pm and dispatched two ambulances.
A police officer in his 30s was taken to Changi General Hospital with minor injuries.
Photos posted on Facebook showed the badly dented front and hood of the police vehicle, while the airbag in the driver's seat was also activated.
The BMW appeared to have suffered serious damage to its rear.
Motorists convicted of dangerous driving can be fined up to $3,000 and/or jailed up to 12 months. Repeat offenders face a heavier fine of up to $5,000 and/or a jail term not exceeding two years.
The police have reminded the public that road blocks are conducted to deter and detect crimes. Motorists are advised to cooperate with police officers when approached during road blocks, as any evasion of one can potentially cause serious harm to other road users.
Anyone convicted of evading a road block is liable to a fine of up to $5,000 and/or imprisonment not exceeding 12 months.
