1-7-2024 (SINGAPORE) A 23-year-old motorcyclist has tragically lost his life after being trapped under a bus on the Bukit Timah Expressway (BKE). The harrowing accident, which unfolded on Sunday (30 June), prompted a swift response from emergency services and left commuters grappling with significant traffic congestion.
Footage from the aftermath, shared on the Singapore roads accident.com Facebook page, painted a chilling scene. The videos depicted Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) officers and members of the public gathered alongside a private bus that had come to a halt on the road shoulder of the expressway. Their efforts were focused on assisting someone trapped beneath the bus, underscoring the gravity of the situation.
An additional clip, captured by a passing motorist, revealed the presence of at least two SCDF vehicles at the scene, with traffic being diverted away from the left side of the expressway. The visual evidence left little doubt about the severity of the incident, as several SCDF officers were seen working intently beside the private bus.
The impact of the accident rippled through the city’s traffic network, with the Land Transport Authority’s (LTA) Traffic News account on X issuing warnings to motorists as early as 2:14 pm. Initially, the alert cautioned of an accident on the BKE towards Woodlands, before the Woodlands Ave 3 Exit. Just nine minutes later, the LTA advised drivers to avoid lanes 2 and 3, underscoring the extent of the disruption.
However, the consequences extended far beyond the immediate vicinity, as the accident resulted in congestion stretching all the way to the Seletar Expressway (SLE) exit. The gridlock persisted for hours, with updates from the LTA confirming that the congestion remained unresolved as late as 3:01 pm.
In response to inquiries from MS News, the SCDF confirmed that they were alerted to the road traffic accident on Sunday (30 June) at approximately 2:10 pm along the BKE, heading towards the Seletar Expressway (SLE) before the exit to Woodlands Avenue 3. The Singapore Police Force (SPF), which was also notified at the same time, revealed that the accident involved a bus and a motorcycle.
Upon arrival, SCDF officers discovered a person trapped under the bus. Using hydraulic rescue equipment, they successfully extricated the individual, who was conscious at the time, and rushed them to Khoo Teck Puat Hospital. Tragically, the 23-year-old male motorcyclist succumbed to his injuries at the hospital, according to the police.