The shocking car crash at Tanjong Pagar that killed five men continues to plague the minds of Singaporeans.
The car, a white BMW M4 coupe, crashed into the front of a shophouse along Tanjong Pagar Road and burst into flames within seconds.
All five men died, and one woman was sent to SGH with burn injuries and is in critical condition.
However, it seems that the shophouse wasn’t as badly damaged as previously thought.
Tanjong Pagar Shophouse Suffered Minimal Damage
In fact, according to the Building and Construction Authority (BCA), it only suffered minimal damage.
“Other than some surface scratches on the column at the ground floor, the structural integrity of the building was not affected by the collision and the fire,” said a BCA spokesman.
The authority said it will direct the owner of the building to engage a professional engineer to carry out a more detailed inspection and propose rectification works, if necessary.
The Shophouse Has Been Vacant Since 29 Jan 2021
The Straits Times reported that the shophouse, located at 37 Tanjong Pagar Road, has been vacant since its previous occupant, the Five Oars Coffee Roasters cafe, moved out on 29 Jan.
Urban Redevelopment Authority’s (URA) online map also shows that it is as a conserved building marked as “historic”.
The land of the shophouse is privately owned, and is designated for commercial development in URA’s Master Plan.
What Happened
Just before the BMW slammed into the shophouse, residents in the area said they heard the roar of a car’s engine.
The driver of the BMW is believed to have sped just before the accident occurred, as videos of a BMW M4 coupe speeding along Tanjong Pagar Road were uploaded online.
Within seconds of the crash, the car burst into flames. All five men on board, including the driver, were later pronounced dead at the scene.
The driver’s girlfriend, who was not in the car at the time of the accident, rushed to the burning car to try and save her boyfriend.
She suffered severe burns on about 80% of her body as a result, and is now in critical condition in the intensive care unit.
Traffic Police Exploring Enforcement Operations
Due to the severity of the accident, the authorities are considering ways to make the roads in the area safer for motorists.
In addition to exploring further enforcement operations, the Traffic Police are also considering the use of road-calming measures, such as road humps and speed regulating strips, which will help slow traffic down.
They said Saturday’s accident, which had 5 fatalities, had the highest number of people killed in a single traffic accident in the past decade.
Feature Image: Google Maps
Here’s a simplified summary of the South Korea martial law that even a 5-year-old would understand:
Read Also:
- Salon Allegedly Charged $880 Treatment Package to Elderly Who Has Hearing Difficulties
- Man Replaces M’sia-Registered Car With a S’pore Plate & Drives It Without a Driving Licence
- Confirmed: Allianz Withdraws Its Offer to Buy Income Insurance
- 10th Floor Resident Leaves Baby Stroller On Air Conditioner Compressor
- $400 Worth of Durians Delivered to Customer; Customer Allegedly Takes Durians Without Making Payment
- Woman Borrows Touch ‘N Go Card From S’pore Driver to Cross JB Checkpoint & Didn’t Return Card
Advertisements
