Cabby dies two days after accident, which MP's dashboard camera captured
Pasir Ris crash caught on camera by MP
A 69-year-old taxi driver died yesterday, two days after his cab crashed into a car and then rammed into a tree.
The accident, captured by Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC MP Zainal Sapari's dashboard camera, happened at Pasir Ris Drive 3, near Greenview Secondary School, at about 1.40pm on Saturday.
The two-minute video, which was uploaded by Mr Zainal on Saturday evening, shows the taxi travelling in the right lane before hitting the car in front of it, sending the car to the left lane.
The car then spins and slams into the left side of the cab, sending the taxi off the road and crashing into a tree on the central divider.
Mr Zainal was in the left lane when the ComfortDelGro taxi hit the car.
"I was kind of stunned and a bit shocked, wondering where the taxi came from," he told The New Paper over the phone yesterday.
HELP
Mr Zainal stopped his car and got out to help.
"There was smoke in the car, so another passer-by and I opened the taxi door and tried to prop the driver upright. He was slumped forward, semi-conscious and his eyes were open," he said.
Mr Zainal did not dare to move the driver out of the vehicle as he was afraid that he would injure him further.
"I told him that we had called an ambulance, and others told him, 'uncle, don't sleep, don't sleep'."
The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said the man was breathless and had head injuries.
He and two others, including the driver of the car, were taken to Changi General Hospital.
Mr Zainal said he had a brief conversation with the cabby's son and told him there were valuables in the car he might want to take care of.
"I spoke to the taxi driver's family, and they told me that he had been driving for a long time and was a careful driver," he said, adding that he was unsure about the cause of the crash.
TNP understands that the cabby had two adult sons and a daughter.
Asked about how the family was doing, Mr Zainal said they were "distraught" and still coming to terms with what had happened.
He said the son did not want to watch the video. Mr Zainal uploaded the video to warn other road users to drive safely and handed the original copy to the police for investigations.
To his knowledge, an elderly couple and their granddaughter who were in the other car, received outpatient treatment and were "doing okay".
Ang Mo Kio GRC MP Ang Hin Kee, who is also adviser to the National Taxi Association, said that he was at the hospital on Sunday night, where the driver's family was keeping vigil.
He said the association had prepared emergency funds to help the family and was looking to see if other claims could be made.
Ms Tammy Tan, corporate communications officer of ComfortDelGro Group, said: "We are deeply saddened by the passing of our driver and are in touch with his family to render them assistance during this difficult time."
Police investigations are ongoing.
I told him that we had called an ambulance, and others told him, 'uncle, don't sleep, don't sleep'.
- Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC MP Zainal Sapari, who was at the scene of the accident, on the taxi driver in the crash
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