Passenger dies in car crash, driver taken to hospital then arrested
A 25-year-old man died early yesterday morning after the car he was in crashed into the centre divider and a tree along Upper Bukit Timah Road.
The driver was taken to hospital and was later arrested.
The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said it was alerted at about 1.30am to the accident, which happened along the stretch of road near Springdale Condominium in the direction of Clementi Road.
The passenger was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics, while the 28-year-old male driver had to be extricated from the car using hydraulic tools.
Police said he was taken conscious to the National University Hospital and was subsequently arrested for causing death by a negligent act.
Investigations are ongoing.
The New Paper understands that the driver lost control of the car, which then mounted the centre road divider and hit the tree.
Images and videos of the accident circulating online show the front of a mangled white car wrapped around the tree's trunk, with dozens of SCDF personnel surrounding the wreckage and many passers-by looking on.
Shin Min Daily News reported that a resident living nearby, who wanted to be known only as Mr Wu, 47, had told the Chinese newspaper that he heard a loud noise and rushed out to see what had happened.
Mr Wu said the SCDF had arrived quickly and rescued the driver first but took at least an hour extricating the front passenger.
Chinese daily Lianhe Wanbao also spoke to residents of neighbouring condominiums, who said that the accident site was a danger spot.
Mr Lin Bang Sheng, 56, told Wanbao that he had lived in the area for more than 20 years and accidents often occurred along that stretch of road.
Wanbao also reported that the driver and passenger involved in yesterday's accident were cousins.
When its reporter approached the deceased's older brother and several relatives at the morgue at about 9am yesterday, he would only say that the accident was sudden and the family were shocked when they heard the news.
The older brother said: "At the moment, we are not sure what happened and we just want to quickly sort out his funeral. We hope that everyone does not make any wild speculations."
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