SINGAPORE – A sudden bus collision in Jurong West Avenue 1 on Sunday morning left 44 people hospitalized and prompted a wide-ranging response from emergency services, transport officials and union representatives in Singapore. The incident occurred at about 10:54 a.m. on Dec 14, when a double-decker bus operating on service 98, run by Tower Transit Singapore, rear-ended a stationary SBS Transit bus on service 99 that was stopped at traffic lights, according to authorities and transport operators.
The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said it was alerted to the crash shortly before 11 a.m. and dispatched rescue crews to the scene. On arrival, emergency teams found one person trapped in the driver’s seat of one of the buses and used hydraulic rescue equipment to free them before transferring them for medical care, SCDF confirmed. In total, 42 passengers and both bus drivers were taken to hospital; all were reported to be conscious when conveyed for treatment.
In response to the crisis, both Tower Transit and SBS Transit posted updates on social media, reassuring the public that “emergency services were promptly activated, and affected passengers are receiving medical assessment and care” and emphasising their priority “is the safety and well-being of those involved.” They added that they, together with the Land Transport Authority (LTA), are reaching out to the injured and their families to offer support amid ongoing investigations into the causes and circumstances of the collision.
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Senior Minister of State for Transport Murali Pillai expressed gratitude towards responders in an official statement, noting his thoughts are with “all who sustained injuries” and wishing them “a full and speedy recovery,” while also confirming that 23 of the 44 hospitalized have been discharged and that the remaining patients, including one bus captain, were in stable condition.
Eyewitnesses and local media accounts described a chaotic post-crash scene, with injured commuters receiving first aid by the roadside and nearby residents alerted by the loud sound of the impact. Police cordoned off the area as part of their inquiry, and a 49-year-old male bus driver was reported to be assisting with investigations into how the incident unfolded.
The collision has sparked public concern about road safety, especially on busy urban routes used by commuters each day. Transport authorities and both bus operators have pledged to cooperate fully with the investigation to understand what went wrong, offering passengers avenues for assistance and contact should they require help in recovering from injuries or trauma related to the accident.
Overall, what began as an ordinary Sunday commute became a dramatic and frightening event that left dozens injured, underscoring the ongoing challenges of ensuring commuter safety across Singapore’s bustling public transport network.
