Cabby didn't know he hit elderly woman until I honked: Witness
For the past 30 years, it had been her routine.
Twice a month, Madam Ng Hwee Teok, 83, would take a bus from her flat in Bishan to the Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple at Waterloo Street to pray.
Other than relying on a walking stick for support, she was healthy and able enough to go about by herself.
But on Monday, at about 1pm, her routine was shattered.
While crossing Bencoolen Link, a narrow two-lane road, Madam Ng, 83, was hit by a taxi and run over by two of its wheels.
The junction where she was hit is known for being a blind spot for drivers and pedestrians.
Mr Adrian Yee Siu, 30, a sales executive, was in his car with his girlfriend, travelling on the opposite lane, when he saw the silver SMRT taxi cab hit Madam Ng.
He told The New Paper: "I saw her fall on the road after the taxi first hit her. I thought the vehicle would stop, but the car continued to go over her left leg to her right chest.
"Her head jerked up twice as the wheels went over her and we immediately honked at the driver to alert him."
Mr Yee said he stopped his car and rushed over to the elderly woman.
She was still conscious, but both her legs were badly injured.
"She said she could not feel her left leg," said Mr Yee.
Madam Ng was able to give Mr Yee the contact number of her son, Mr Yeo Yuen Kee. Passers-by called for an ambulance and the police.
A Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) spokesman said it was alerted at about 12.50pm and sent an ambulance, which took Madam Ng to Singapore General Hospital.
The police are investigating.
BROKEN HIPS, RIBS, LEGS
Madam Ng's son told TNP that his mother's hips, ribs and legs were broken. Her liver and colon also suffered lacerations.
Mr Yeo, 53, who has been working in China as the general manager of a real estate firm for nine years, is now back in Singapore and staying with his mother to spend more time with her.
Despite her pain, the grandmother of five told her son in Mandarin before being wheeled in for a five-hour operation: "I'm sorry for causing trouble."
Mr Yeo said he had been in a meeting at Suntec City when he received a call from Mr Yee about the accident.
He rushed to the scene. When he arrived, his mother was already in the ambulance on her way to the hospital, but the taxi driver was still there.
Mr Yeo said that when he asked the cabby about the accident, the driver replied: "I don't know what happened".
A spokesman for SMRT said: "We are aware of the accident involving our taxi and an elderly pedestrian, which occurred along Bencoolen Link on Sept 8, and are currently looking into it.
"We have contacted the family of the injured passenger, and will be scheduling a visit to the hospital at the convenience of the family.
The spokesman added that SMRT is in "close contact" with the family and is working closely with the police to assist with investigations.
But Mr Yeo said he is baffled how the accident could have happened.
He said: "My mother is very familiar with the area. She is an elderly woman who would have moved slowly. It is unlikely she had dashed across the road. How could the driver not have seen her?"
When TNP spoke to Mr Yeo last night, he said his mother was still in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), but her condition is stable.
He added that "it's still a long way to recovery as she needs more operations and rehabilitation".
Mr Yeo said that he and his siblings are very close to their widowed mother. They visit her regularly and take turns to stay over at her flat.
"She's very healthy and enjoys doing things independently like walking around the neighbourhood. She would do her own household chores... It's heartbreaking to know that she may not ever be as active as she was.
"But we're trying very hard to be positive," he said, adding that he hopes that more witnesses will come forward to shed light on the accident.
"Her head jerked up twice as the wheels went over her and we immediately honked at the driver to alert him."
- Mr Adrian Yee Siu, 30, a sales executive who witnessed the accident
Illegally parked vehicles make area a danger spot
Drivers swerve dangerously close to pedestrians as they weave through the narrow road.
More than five lorries were parking illegally on the roadside - turning it into a one-way lane for vehicles to navigate.
That was what The New Paper observed for two hours from 1pm to 3pm yesterday at a narrow road behind Sri Krishnan Temple and Hotel Ibis.
This was the spot where Madam Ng Hwee Teok, 83, was hit by an SMRT taxi on Monday.
When told of the accident, cabby Suen Ka Kay was not surprised.
"The (illegally-parked) lorries obscure our view and this makes it harder for us drivers when we make a turn. By the time we see pedestrians crossing the road, it will be too late."
The 41-year-old said that drivers have to take "calculated risks" when driving in this area. The onus is on drivers to be cautious and courteous.
"There is no proper pedestrian crossing or zebra crossing, so it will depend on drivers to look out for pedestrians."
Ms Ng, 25, a customer service officer at Ibis Hotel, told TNP that about 15 cars pass by the road every five minutes during lunch hour.
"The road is behind the temples and eateries at Waterloo Street. People who are going for lunch or for prayers will always cross the road. However, there are no convex traffic mirrors or zebra crossings for pedestrians to cross with ease," she said.
So, what can be done to minimise such accidents?
Several elderly pedestrians TNP spoke to also felt that the road is a hot-spot for danger.
ONUS ON PEDESTRIAN
Mr Richard Chin, 61, said: "They should install a traffic mirror at the junction for pedestrians to check for turning vehicles. Ultimately, we have to take safety in our own hands and be alert at all times."
Mr Gopinath Menon, vice-chairman of the Singapore Road Safety Council, said older pedestrians are more vulnerable to traffic accidents.
"Elderly pedestrians are unable to make the right judgement because of their impaired hearing and eyesight.
"To prevent traffic accidents, they should always practise the kerb-drill - look right, look left and right again before putting their hands up and crossing the road," he said.
- KIAT TAN
TNP INFOGRAPHICS: KELVIN CHAN
- At least five lorries were parked illegally on the roadside when TNP visited the area yesterday — turning it into a one-way lane for vehicles to navigate.
- Madam Ng Hwee Teok, 83, was hit by an SMRT taxi when she was crossing the narrow road.
- The road junction is a blindspot for both pedestrians and turning vehicles.
Get The New Paper on your phone with the free TNP app. Download from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store now