Chase ends in multi-vehicle crash
Published Apr 11, 2016, 5:00 am SGT
Driver evades road block, triggering police pursuit; three officers among seven injured
Ng Huiwen
Seven people were injured in a multi-vehicle accident linked to a police car chase early yesterday morning.
Two taxis, a police car and a white saloon that was pursued by the police were involved in the accident at 4.14am at the junction of Bedok Reservoir Road and Eunos Link.
The police confirmed that they were conducting an operation along Still Road South yesterday morning when "a 27-year-old male driver refused to comply with the officer's instruction at the road block and sped off".
The driver and his passenger, three Traffic Police officers, as well as a taxi driver and his passenger were injured in the accident.
Police have arrested the male driver and his passenger for traffic and drug-related offences.
Eyewitness Terry Than told The Straits Times that he heard a loud bang from his second-floor unit at Eunos Mansion.
"A white car hit one taxi and a police car hit another taxi; the taxi driver told me the white car beat a red light," added the 28-year-old chef.
Police and SCDF officers at the scene of the accident involving two taxis, a police car and a white saloon that was being pursued by the police yesterday, at the junction of Bedok Reservoir Road and Eunos Link.Police and SCDF officers at the scene of the accident involving two taxis, a police car and a white saloon that was being pursued by the police yesterday, at the junction of Bedok Reservoir Road and Eunos Link. PHOTO: SHIN MIN DAILY NEWS
A Facebook video posted by user Jason Goh, who was driving towards Ubi at 4.37am yesterday, showed multiple police cars at the scene, with several lanes closed off to traffic. Mr Goh said he saw a Traffic Police car by the side of the road.
A Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) spokesman said a fire engine, a red rhino, two support vehicles and four ambulances were dispatched to the scene.
The male driver trapped inside the car was rescued by SCDF personnel within 15 minutes using hydraulic rescue equipment.
Two of those who were injured were taken to Tan Tock Seng Hospital, while five others were sent to Changi General Hospital, he added.
The police said that following the accident, the male driver had put up a violent struggle and assaulted a Traffic Police officer in an attempt to evade arrest.
A police spokesman said his actions had endangered the lives of officers and other road users, and urged the public to cooperate when approached by police officers.
"Any evasion of a road block can cause potentially serious harm to other road users and also to our police officers," the spokesman said.
He added that the police also take a serious view of members of the public who abuse public servants.
Those found guilty of voluntarily causing hurt to a public servant can be jailed for up to seven years, fined, caned or all of the above.
Police investigations are ongoing.
