'My first instinct was to jump out with my son': Woman stops taxi after driver allegedly lost consciousness on ECP

[DaoMa]

'My first instinct was to jump out with my son': Woman stops taxi after driver allegedly lost consciousness on ECP​

Lee was in the taxi with her six-year-old son at the time.



Chloe Loh

July 08, 2026, 02:55 PM​

Photos from Winnie Lee.

A woman travelling with her six-year-old son in a taxi was forced to act quickly after the driver allegedly lost consciousness while driving along the East Coast Parkway (ECP).

The incident took place at around 12:45pm on Jul. 6.

What happened​

In a TikTok video posted later the same day, Winnie Lee recounted how she and her son were travelling from Jewel Changi Airport to Crawford Lane to meet her husband and elder son for lunch.

Speaking to Mothership, Lee said she had initially tried to book a taxi using the ComfortDelGro Zig app but was unsuccessful.

She then decided to walk to Terminal 1 to join the taxi queue instead.

Lee said when she first boarded the taxi, the driver was rather chatty, and they talked about her difficulty booking a cab through the app.

However, while travelling along the ECP, the taxi began veering towards the road shoulder, she recalled.

At first, Lee said she thought overgrown bushes were brushing against the taxi as they had not been trimmed.

"He corrected the car back into the lane, but it only lasted for a few minutes," she said.

She then noticed through the rear-view mirror that the driver appeared to be yawning and looked "a bit sleepy".

Concerned, she decided to talk to him and asked if he was feeling all right.

The driver replied that he was fine, and Lee suggested he pull over to rest.

He then responded by asking: "Where do I stop?"

At that point, Lee said the driver became unresponsive.

"I think he actually became unconscious," she said, adding that she suspected he may have suffered a stroke or heart attack.

The taxi began drifting towards the centre divider, brushing against the bushes at the road shoulder, she said.

Lee said her first instinct was to jump out of the vehicle with her son.

However, she later decided to force open the passenger door, hoping it would create enough friction against the roadside barriers to slow the taxi down.

"Since I didn't know how to drive, I had no idea what buttons to press to stop the car. I had to forcefully open the car door so it would create friction against the metal railing in the middle of the ECP," she said.

Thankfully, the taxi eventually came to a gradual stop.

A passer-by helped Lee and her son out of the vehicle before they called for an ambulance, which Lee said arrived about 10 to 15 minutes later.

Lee added that her son had slept through the incident and was unaware of what had happened.

Driver receiving medical attention: ComfortDelGro​

In response to Mothership's queries, the Singapore Civil Defence Force confirmed that they received a call for assistance along ECP towards Marina Coastal Expressway (MCE) at about 12:50pm that day.

They conveyed one person to Tan Tock Seng Hospital.

Separately, a ComfortDelGro spokesperson confirmed that the driver had been taken to the hospital and was receiving medical treatment.

"Our thoughts are with him and his family at this time, and we kindly request that their privacy be respected," said the spokesperson.

The spokesperson added that the taxi had been brought to a safe stop and that the company has been in contact with the passengers to offer support.

"We recognise that this would have been an unsettling experience for the passengers and are in contact with them to extend our concern and offer any necessary support."

 

[True Believer]

Even though Winnie may not believe that she can ever own a car, it is important for her to obtain a driving licence. She could have taken over the wheel and driven the unconscious cabby to the hospital.

 

[jsctan]

This is not the first case driver lost consciousness?

Think anything to do with blood clot?

 

[True Believer]

This is not the first case driver lost consciousness? Think anything to do with blood clot?

There are many cabbies in their 60s and early 70s. Falling asleep at the wheel and having a heart attack while driving are not unheard of.

 

[bigozt]

Working and exercising is the solution for the Pappie loving Pioneer gen! Say no to Leetirement

 

[shock888]

This is not the first case driver lost consciousness?

Think anything to do with blood clot?

Its about time Taxi drivers are certified fit for drive.. including heart and stroke risks...

 

[nabeifuckpap]

P or M vaccine

 

[DaoMa]

 

[True Believer]

Working and exercising is the solution for the Pappie loving Pioneer gen! Say no to Leetirement

I know of many wealthy and highly educated PG S'poreans who do not support the ruling party. Why should they, when the wealth they have amassed is not due to the PAP, but in spite of the heavy taxation on the high SES seniors? The PG you are referring to are the low SES who are beholden to the SG govt for those CDC vouchers, which are from the taxes paid by the rich.

 

[VanDick]

Why does her son look like a girl? This is fucked up parenting.

 

[Truthspeak]

The pandemic of the vaccinated.

Any pureblood who doesn’t want to be inflicted by the karma vaxtards are going thru, please stay at home for safety as always

 

[Truthspeak]

Its about time Taxi drivers are certified fit for drive.. including heart and stroke risks...

They drive their vehicles on the road and getting targeted by thousands of laser beams (from 5G cells tower) shooting at them everyday.

It is no longer about whether they are fit or not but how soon they will get their karma.

Only the whites in western countries are more smarter

 

[Narong Wongwan]

How old taxi uncle?
How many hours he’s been working to make ends meet?

 

[jsctan]

There are many cabbies in their 60s and early 70s. Falling asleep at the wheel and having a heart attack while driving are not unheard of.

Strenuous job driving whole day needing alertness should not have retirement age 50 and above.

 

[jsctan]

Its about time Taxi drivers are certified fit for drive.. including heart and stroke risks...

I think they are except full day driving needs alertness and anyone above 50 should not be driving. Endangering ownself and others.

 

[Truthspeak]

I think they are except full day driving needs alertness and anyone above 50 should not be driving. Endangering ownself and others.

They are already waiting to launch their initiative nationwide

All thanks to the sheeple who loves to pawn themselves

Many phv drivers will be left unemployed (useless eaters) and then got culled by the direct energy weapon lol

 

[Leongsam]

The cybercab will not have these sorts of problems.

 

[True Believer]

I think they are except full day driving needs alertness and anyone above 50 should not be driving. Endangering ownself and others.

The statutory upper age limit for taxi and PHV drivers is 75 years old. I believe that 65 should be the age when their vocational licence automatically expires and cannot be renewed, for the safety of all road users.

 

[jsctan]

The statutory upper age limit for taxi and PHV drivers is 75 years old. I believe that 65 should be the age when their vocational licence automatically expires and cannot be renewed, for the safety of all road users.

If grandfather driving non full day to do errands, it is still acceptable as long as they are tested to be fit to be on the road for a while.
However, when one drives non stop, those above 50s will know nodding off during office hours is common when one ages.

 

[True Believer]

If grandfather driving non full day to do errands, it is still acceptable as long as they are tested to be fit to be on the road for a while.
However, when one drives non stop, those above 50s will know nodding off during office hours is common when one ages.

Those Samsters in our 50s and 60s can attest to dozing off in front of the laptop or TV at work or at home in the afternoon. I cannot imagine feeling drowsy while driving a cab or PHV on our expressways.