16 cars, 2 pile-ups
Five injured, massive jam on PIE in early morning collision
Two accidents 100 metres apart led to a massive jam on the Pan-Island Expressway (PIE) yesterday morning.
Each crash involved eight cars and a total of five casualties were taken to hospital.
The pileups occurred at 7.05am near the Jurong West Avenue 2 exit, in the direction of Tuas.
Chinese evening daily Lianhe Wanbao reported that the accidents caused a traffic jam from the Jurong West Avenue 2 exit to Clementi Avenue 6.
One of those involved in the accidents was Mr Pan Qing Xiang, 64.
The mathematics professor was driving his son, who is doing a double degree in engineering and economics, to Nanyang Technological University for an orientation camp, reported Wanbao.
His wife was sitting in front while his son, 21, was napping in the backseat.
The force of the crash damaged Mr Pan's car and activated its safety air bag. Mr Pan, who was strapped to his seat, found it difficult to breathe.
His left ring finger was bleeding and his right wrist was swollen, Wanbao reported.
His wife felt pain in her rib cage and was worried that she had suffered a fracture. Their son was unhurt.
The New Paper understands that a Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) officer was also involved in one of the two accidents. He was alone and on the way to another incident in an SCDF car.
An SCDF spokesman said they sent two ambulances to the scene. Five casualties were taken to the National University Hospital. One man in his 50s refused to be taken to the hospital, the spokesman added.
Police investigations are ongoing.
- Additional reporting by Kerri Heng
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