Crash so loud it could be heard on 22nd storey

The two friends were waiting for the lift on Sunday when they heard a crash.

The sound was so loud they could hear it all the way up from where they were on the 22nd storey.

Curious, Mr Ryan Ho Young Siang, 19, and his friend, who wanted to be known only as Chris, went downstairs to find that an accident had happened at a nearby traffic junction.

Blood, metal debris and shattered glass were scattered all over.

"It was just a really big mess," said Chris.

A police spokesman said they received a call at about 8.45pm informing them of the accident, which took place at the junction of Boon Lay Way and Jurong Town Hall Road.

The spokesman said the lorry driver was trying to make a right turn when he crashed into the side of the blue ComfortDelgro taxi.

The door was dislodged from the taxi during the crash. PHOTOS: STOMP

As a result of the impact, the right side of the taxi had caved in. One of its doors was dislodged. Damage to the white lorry was less severe - a smashed front bumper and headlight.

Chris said: "I couldn't even recognise the side of the taxi any more."

Mr Ho said that when they arrived at the scene, two girls were lying on the ground with neckbraces on. One of them looked pale and blood was streaming from her leg.

The other girl had a head injury and was bleeding.

Chris said: "The first thing that came to mind was: 'Is the girl okay?' The rest of the adults were standing but I was worried because she was lying on the ground."

Mr Ho said they saw that one of the girls was trapped in the back of the taxi.

"She was caught in there for more than an hour. I think the paramedics didn't want to move her because she was injured," he said.

Two girls (above) were injured and attended to after their taxi was hit by a lorry on Sunday along Jurong East Street 21. 

"But surprisingly, the girls all seemed very calm. They were not crying or screaming or anything."

Mr Ho, whose account appeared on citizen journalism website Stomp, is an intern at news portal AsiaOne.

CROWD

He said a crowd of about 50 gathered at the accident scene.

Chris said: "Many of them were taking pictures, but I think some of them were helping the victims."

The Singapore Civil Defence Force said it sent four ambulances and one fire engine to the scene.

Five people - aged 14 to 48 - were taken to National University Hospital.

Chinese daily Lianhe Zaobao reported that three of the injured were young females, one was a middle-aged female passenger, and the other was the taxi driver. Chris said: "I pray that everyone is okay. Hopefully, no one is hurt too badly."

Police said the lorry driver was arrested at the scene for suspected drink-driving. Investigations are ongoing.

The first thing that came to mind was: 'Is the girl okay?'

- Witness Chris who saw two girls lying on the ground with neckbraces after the taxi they were in was hit by a lorry