Did Certis Cisco van crash because of tyre on road?
Accident leaves driver trapped, nine Certis Cisco officers injured
It was an unexpected sight - a large strip of rubber from a tyre lying in the middle of Changi Coast Road in the direction of Nicoll Drive yesterday evening.
And it was this that probably caused a Certis Cisco passenger van carrying 11 officers, including the driver, to crash into a lamppost and a power supply box and end up on its side.
The accident, which happened at about 6.40pm, shattered the front and side windows of the van and trapped the driver.
Singapore Civil Defence Force officers, who arrived about 10 minutes later, freed him using rescue tools.
Two officers walked out on their own, while the rest were helped out of the vehicle and taken to Changi General Hospital together with the driver for minor injuries.
The officers involved in the accident were a mix of Singaporeans and Malaysians.
Certis Cisco officers who arrived later on the scene told The New Paper that they saw the rubber strip in the middle of the three-lane road.
One of them helped pull it to the grassy area by the side of the road.
When TNP visited the crash site at about 8pm, we saw spots of blood on the roof of the van.
Shattered glass lay on the road and the lamppost that the passenger van had hit was damaged and bent.
The Certis Cisco officer who moved the tyre said: "It was right in the centre of the road. When we (arrived), I quickly went to move it aside.
TERRIBLE
"I think the van was trying to avoid the tyre, that's why it went to the left side and crashed."
According to the officer, the passengers in the van were on their way to start their night shift when the accident occurred.
"They were just on their way to do their job, then this terrible thing happened," said the officer.
A Certis Cisco spokesman told TNP: "All injured officers including nine officers - seven APOs (Auxiliary Police Officers, one of whom was the driver) and two Aviation security officers have been conveyed to Changi General Hospital, conscious.
"Certis Cisco will extend full assistance and cooperation in traffic police's investigations.
"Meanwhile, Certis Cisco will extend assistance to all officers involved, as well as their families."
Police investigations are ongoing.
They were just on their way to do their job, then this terrible thing happened.
- An unnamed Certis Cisco officer at the scene
Get The New Paper on your phone with the free TNP app. Download from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store now