SINGAPORE: A 54-year-old male bus passenger was injured after a double-decker bus ploughed through overhanging tree branches along Bishan Street 22 on Wednesday (Nov 22) evening.
The service 88 bus was travelling along Bishan Street 22 when it collided with a tree bough, causing damage to the bus, especially on the upper deck, said Ms Grace Wu, an SBS Transit spokesperson.
In response to TODAY’s queries, the police and the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said they were alerted at about 10.30pm to the accident along Bishan Street 22 towards Bishan Street 24.
The police said investigations are ongoing and the 55-year-old male bus driver is assisting with the probe.
The injured passenger was taken to Tan Tock Seng Hospital while he was conscious, said the SCDF spokesperson.
A 53-second TikTok video posted by user fullofflupplish showed the aftermath of the accident, depicting shattered glass from the windows of the bus’ upper deck strewn across the road. The damaged roof of the bus could be seen as well.
Another TikTok video posted by user sgmoneymoves showed a branch of the tree lodged in the roof of the bus.
A resident living nearby, who only wanted to be identified as Mr How, told Mandarin news platform 8world.com that he heard what sounded like the crushing of metal when the accident happened.
He went downstairs to have a look and saw that nearly half of the bus’ roof had been ripped off, and that part of the roof was on the top of a tree. Debris was strewn all over the ground.
He told 8world: “It’s quite shocking at the scene, like, oh my gosh, the top, half (the roof was) gone. I cannot imagine if anyone (was) sitting (upstairs).”
TODAY has also reached out to the National Parks Board, which manages trees along public roads in Singapore, for more information about the tree.
Ms Wu said the passenger has since been discharged and that SBS Transit is in touch with him to “extend care and concern and are rendering assistance as best (they) can”.
“We would also like to apologise to affected commuters for the distress and inconvenience caused. Meanwhile, we are investigating the cause of the incident,” added Ms Wu.
This article was originally published in TODAY.