Tree falls on 2 cars in Dempsey area; private-hire driver freed from MPV by spa staff
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- A tree fell on a private hire car and a parked BMW in Dempsey, trapping the driver Saiful, who was safely freed by nearby spa staff.
- The Singapore Civil Defence Force and ambulance attended, confirming no injuries; road was blocked for tree removal but reopened by 5pm.
- The Singapore Land Authority is investigating the cause and will check surrounding trees to ensure public safety and minimise future risks.
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SINGAPORE – A private-hire driver was left unhurt after a tree fell on his car in the Dempsey area at about 10am on Aug 22.
The 60-year-old driver, who gave his name only as Saiful, told The Straits Times that he was turning his white Nissan multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) out of the Museum of Ice Cream in Loewen Road when he heard a loud crackling sound.
“I looked up and I could see the tree on the left side of my car slowly toppling in front of me,” he said.
“I tried to reverse but some of the tree had already toppled onto the passenger side of my car, crushing the roof on that side of the car.”
The incident left him trapped in the vehicle as he could not open the door from the inside.
Moments later, employees of a spa next to where the accident occurred came out to free him from the driver’s seat.
The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) and an ambulance came shortly after and checked Saiful for injuries; he had none. His family arrived soon after as well.
SCDF said in a statement that no ambulance assistance was required.
When ST was at the scene at 12.45pm, Loewen Road was blocked as landscape contractors continued to remove parts of the tree from the road.
Besides the white MPV, a parked blue BMW was also affected, with parts of the tree falling on its bonnet.
As at 5pm, the road had been reopened to traffic and the affected vehicles had been cleared.
In response to ST’s queries, the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) said on Aug 22 that it was aware of the incident and responded to the situation on-site with the relevant stakeholders and agencies.
“The immediate priority is to ensure public safety, secure the affected area and facilitate the safe removal of the fallen tree to minimise disruption,” an SLA spokesperson said, adding that there were no major injuries reported.
The spokesperson said SLA will work with the stakeholders and agencies to assess the circumstances surrounding the incident. They will also determine if any follow-up measures are needed, including checks on surrounding trees.
“All other locations in Dempsey remain accessible,” said the spokesperson. “We thank members of the public for their patience and cooperation while the necessary works are carried out.”