SINGAPORE (ANN/THE STRAITS TIMES) – A 71-year-old taxi driver was arrested for drunk driving after his vehicle ended up on a walkway below an Housing and Development Board (HDB) block in Teck Whye on March 10.
The police said that they were notified of a taxi accident at Block 122 Teck Whye Lane around 9pm that night.
Chinese-language media outlet Shin Min Daily News reported that a resident had noticed a stalled taxi on the ground floor of the HDB block when she looked out from her home. A police cordon had been set up at the scene.
Several police officers were spotted in the area, said the resident, who wanted to be known only as Madam Shi.
Pictures from the incident show a blue ComfortDelGro taxi with a damaged front bumper.
A spokesperson for ComfortDelgro said the driver’s contract has been terminated, adding that the company will assist with police investigations.
“The safety of our passengers, pedestrians, and all road users is our top priority, and we have a zero-tolerance policy towards drunk driving,” said the spokesperson.
An eyewitness told Shin Min that he was dining with his family at 8.45pm when he suddenly heard a piercing sound coming from downstairs.
“It turned out to be a taxi tyre blowout, and the piercing sound came from the wheels rubbing against the ground. I thought the driver was going to turn around and leave, but he drove up the walkway instead,” he said.
The Singapore Civil Defence Force said it received a call for assistance at 8.55pm.
A paramedic evaluated an individual for minor injuries, who then declined to be taken to the hospital, it said.
