Cyclist crashes into boy, 3, outside childcare centre
She was taking her three-year-old son home after lessons ended at the Bukit Batok childcare centre.
The mother, who wanted to be known only as Mrs Gao, was strapping his schoolbag on the stroller outside the centre at Blk 531 Bukit Batok St 51.
The boy was standing next to her when disaster struck on Wednesday (July 29).
Mrs Gao, a 36-year-old auditor, told evening daily Lianhe Wanbao:
"I heard the sound of bicycle wheels approaching very fast. My child was about three steps away from me.
"Before I had time to react, the bicycle crashed into him and pinned him to the ground."
The cyclist was a 10-year-old boy.
A shocked Mrs Gao took some time to recover her wits. She recalled:
"My son burst out crying. There was blood covering his face and eyes."
She hurried to comfort her son while the cyclist took off.
The toddler suffered multiple injuries and needed six stitches at his left eyebrow.
He also had abrasions near his right temple and left knee.
Mrs Gao said her son complained of blurred vision and she's monitoring his condition though doctors said his eyes were not injured.
Mr Gao, an engineer who is also 36, said the family was supposed to fly to China today but had to cancel their plans after the incident.
What cyclist's mother says
The woman, known only as Sisi, visited the toddler in hospital yesterday morning.
She told Wanbao over the phone that, as a mother, she felt deeply apologetic for what happened:
"My son is only 10 years old. He was so scared by the incident that he couldn't sleep at night.
"I don't wish to complicate matters so I'm not going to say anymore but I will be in touch with the other party."
Mrs Gao said Sisi offered to pay for her son's medical fees and the family's airfare cancellation.
She added: "I hope this incident would serve as a reminder to others not to cycle along flat corridors."
Source: Lianhe Wanbao
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