TLDR; Bus captain dies in a fatal accident outside Hougang depot. Leaves behind his wife and three school-going children.
A Singaporean SBS Transit bus captain was found dead on Sunday morning (Oct 9), after the bus crashed into a tree along Defu Avenue 1 towards Hougang Avenue 3.
SBS Transit stated that the bus captain was driving the empty bus back to Hougang depot when the vehicle lost control and hit a tree.
The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said that its officers had to extricate the bus captain from the driver seat.
He was pronounced dead at the scene by a paramedic.
Workplace Facilities
In a statement by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) on Monday, the bus captain’s death marked the 39th workplace fatality this year. This exceeds the 37 workplace deaths reported last year.
In response to the high number of workplace fatalities this year, MOM imposed a mandatory safety time-out for the first time.
With SBS Transit for more than 20 years
In a Facebook post on Monday, Mr Melvin Yong, assistant secretary-general for the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC), wrote that he was deeply saddened by the driver’s death.
Mr Yong disclosed that the driver was a Union Representative and had been with SBS Transit for more than 20 years.
“I assured the family that the Union is working closely with the company and we will do all we can to support them during this difficult time,” he said.
You may read his Facebook post in full text below:
[fatal accident]
I’m deeply saddened by the passing of our Union Representative (工会代表) yesterday morning. He was known to many of us as 阿龙 and had been a bus captain with SBS Transit for more than 20 years.
According to reports, he was driving the employee bus at the time of the accident, when the bus mounted a road kerb along Defu Ave 1, and subsequently hit a tree. The accident is currently under investigation by the Traffic Police.
I visited the family this afternoon together with our National Transport Workers’ Union leaders. 阿龙 leaves behind his wife and three school-going children. I assured the family that the Union is working closely with the company and we will do all we can to support them during this difficult time.
We join the family to grieve for the loss of our Union Brother, who was not just a loving father and husband, but also a respected union leader.