SINGAPORE: A 24-year-old man has been arrested for dangerous driving causing grievous hurt after the lorry he was driving collided with another, causing 21 people to be taken to hospital on Wednesday (Oct 15).
The police said in a statement on Friday (Oct 17) that the driver was ferrying nine passengers on his lorry when the accident happened at 10.45pm.
The driver had allegedly run the red light at the junction of Sungei Kadut Avenue and Sungei Kadut Loop.
His lorry then collided with another, which was going across the junction on a green light.
The other lorry was ferrying 11 passengers.
All passengers on both lorries and the driver of the second lorry were taken to hospital with injuries, including fractures, lacerations and bodily pain.
Investigations are ongoing.
If found guilty, the 24-year-old driver could be jailed for up to five years – or jailed between one and 10 years if this is his second or subsequent conviction – and disqualified from driving all classes of vehicles.
The police said running the red light remains a serious concern.
Such violations fell by 25.3 per cent to 13,073 in the first half of 2025, from 17,508 in the first half of 2024, said the police.
However, the number of accidents caused by running the red light, including those that resulted in fatalities, rose by 38.3 per cent to 65 in the first half of 2025, from 47 in the first half of 2024.
The police reminded motorists to slow down when approaching traffic junctions, watch out for hazards even if the lights are green, and to allow sufficient time to stop safely when traffic lights change.
It added that as part of ongoing road safety initiatives since January 2024, the Traffic Police have been facilitating the mandatory installation of speed limiters on lorries with a maximum laden weight of between 3,500kg and 12,000kg.
This ensures that lorries do not go beyond the speed limit of 60kmh.
The police urged companies operating lorries in the category to prioritise speed limiter installation through authorised agents, with the first deadline on Jan 1, 2026.
“This accident serves as a reminder for companies to foster a strong safety culture among their drivers, emphasising the importance of adhering to traffic signals and road rules,” said the police. - The Straits Times/ANN
