6 Bus Incidents That Resulted in Injured Commuters Within the Past 2 Years

While there’s no doubt that Singapore’s a relatively safe country, it also goes without saying that accidents on the road do happen from time to time.

And buses, despite their role as vehicles to serve the public, have not been exempt from this fate either.

Over the past few years, you might have seen reports here and there regarding accidents that involve buses in Singapore.

Unfortunately, this also means that many bus commuters have been injured as well.

In particular, here are six instances of incidents and accidents that have resulted in bus passengers getting injured over the past (almost) two years.

July 2021: Bukit Batok Interchange Accident

Some of us, especially westies, might remember the horrific accident in July 2021 when two buses from Tower Transit collided with each other within the Bukit Batok Bus Interchange.

The incident occurred on 11 July 2021 at around 5 pm and left one of the buses flipped over to the side.

Both buses were from bus service 945.

Murali Pillai, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Bukit Batok, explained on his Facebook page that one bus was entering the interchange while the other was exiting it, causing them to collide.

The former hit a low fence, causing it to land on its side.

Tower Transit also told The Straits Times that the latter apparently made a U-turn within the interchange, which caused the accident to occur.

14 passengers between the ages of ten and 70 from the bus that was entering the interchange (i.e. the bus that flipped to its side) were injured and taken to hospital.

Out of the 14 people, five of them suffered “more serious injuries”, with none of them sustaining life-threatening ones.

The other bus had no passengers on it.

Another bus driver who was not driving either of the buses was also injured.

In the end, the bus driver who was driving the bus with no passengers was jailed for six weeks as he was deemed to have not given way to the bus with passengers, the latter of which had the right of way.

September 2022: Woodlands Accident Involving a Car Driver With Epilepsy

Just last year, a car crashed into a bus at the traffic junction between Woodlands Avenues 6 and 9.

The accident, which occurred at 6.08 am on 1 September, involved the car running two red lights before slamming right into the bus, which was in the process of making a right turn after the lights at the traffic junction turned green in its favour.

Mdm Sariah Bakri, a 53-year-old lady who was a passenger on the bus, passed away after being taken to hospital after the crash.

Another seven commuters and the bus driver were also sent to hospital.

It was also stated that the bus was from bus service 858 and belonged to Tower Transit.

During a coroner’s enquiry on 16 March this year, it was revealed that the car driver, Muhammad Hadi Sazali, had a history of seizures and epilepsy since December 2014.

Although no explicit links could be made between his epilepsy and the accident, he had previously been advised not to drive.

Apart from that, the Health Sciences Authority conducted a speed analysis and discovered that Mr Hadi’s car was speeding at speeds up to 127 km/h right before he crashed into the bus.

He was pronounced dead at the scene after others saw him motionless in the driver’s seat with blood dripping out of his mouth.

Both Mdm Sariah and Mr Hadi died of multiple injuries.

While Mdm Sariah’s death was ruled as a road traffic misadventure, Mr Hadi’s death was recorded as an open verdict as the judge could not find enough evidence to “irresistibly establish” any of the possible scenarios regarding Mr Hadi’s intentions and actions that were discussed in court.

January 2023: Car Collided With Bus at Yishun

Yishun jokes aside, an accident involving a bus happened along Yishun Avenue 2 towards the junction between Canberra and Yishun Avenue 3 earlier this year on 13 January.

The police were notified of the incident at around 10.50 pm.

The car from GetGo was travelling at a fast speed when it hit the bus, which was from SBS Transit.

Mrs Grace Wu, the Vice President (special grade) of customer experience and communications at SBS, clarified with CNA afterwards that the bus, which belonged to bus service 117, had the right of way.

The bus was travelling straight and when the traffic light was green.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force revealed that seven passengers on the bus were sent to Khoo Teck Puat Hospital (KTPH) after the accident.

Unfortunately, the driver of the car died after being taken to hospital while unconscious.

SCDF added that the driver had to be rescued with hydraulic rescue equipment as he was trapped in his seat.

April 2023: Accident at Yio Chu Kang Involving Car, Bus and Lorry

Just last month, a bus, lorry and car all ended up in an accident along Yio Chu Kang Road on 14 April at around 10.50 am.

Mrs Wu from SBS told The Straits Times that a private car had first hit a lorry along the road.

Just a few seconds later, the lorry ended up hitting the bus, which was from bus service 163, causing a domino effect of sorts.

According to Mrs Wu, the bus had been driving straight in the extreme left lane when the accident occurred.

Additionally, the impact of the lorry crashing into the bus caused the latter to mount a kerb and collide with a tree before it came to a stop.

After the accident, two bus passengers were taken to KTPH while conscious.

The passengers, both women, were aged 30 and 55.

Another passenger was given medical treatment at the scene.

April 2023: Hougang Accident Between a Double-Decker Bus and Car

Even more recently, a double-decker bus from Go-Ahead crashed into a car while driving along the junction between Hougang Avenue 4 and Buangkok Green at the end of April.

The incident occurred on 25 April at around 10.35 am near Block 557 Hougang Street 51.

Both the car and bus, which belonged to bus service 43, were badly damaged as a result of the incident.

A commuter on the bus told Shin Min Daily News that the white car tried to turn right when the bus was driving straight.

After noticing the car, the bus driver attempted to jam the brakes but was unable to do so in time.

In the end, seven bus passengers and the car driver were sent to two hospitals while conscious.

Passengers noted that some of their fellow commuters were badly injured while the car driver seemed relatively fine.

Six of them were sent to Sengkang General Hospital, while the other two were sent to Tan Tock Seng Hospital.

The Singapore Police Force also revealed that those sent to the hospital were between the ages of 33 and 85.

May 2023: Woodlands Bus Interchange Incident

And just last Sunday (7 May), a bus ride left yet another commuter injured after he fell out of his wheelchair.

Right as the bus was leaving the bus interchange.

A member of the public notified Stomp of the incident, which happened at Woodlands Bus Interchange.

The Stomper, who was only identified as Low, was seated at the front of the SMRT bus when they suddenly heard a loud bang after the bus driver made a “corner turn very fast”.

After the “sudden turn” by the bus driver, Low realised that the wheelchair of a wheelchair-bound passenger had overturned, causing the passenger to end up on the floor near the bus doors in the middle of the bus.

The wheelchair-bound passenger, who was an old man, was bleeding profusely from his head.

After landing on the floor, the old man started screaming loudly, “Help! Police! Someone wants to kill me, help!”

Based on photos and videos taken by the Stomper, the man’s blood pooled around his head and right hand.

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After the incident, SMRT Buses’ Deputy Managing Director responded to queries from Stomp.

The Deputy Managing Director, Vincent Gay, confirmed that the incident had happened at Woodlands Integrated Transport Hub at around 8.20 pm on Sunday (7 May).

The incident involved a bus that belonged to bus service 961M.

Following the incident, the injured man was sent to Sengkang General Hospital while conscious.

Mr Gay emphasised that SMRT’s Care Team has since contacted the man to offer assistance and support.

In the meantime, SMRT has also suspended the bus captain who drove that particular bus.

The bus driver is currently assisting with SMRT’s investigations.