A Malaysian-registered car was found abandoned after crashing into a lamppost and road sign in Choa Chu Kang on Friday morning (Jun. 26), with bundles of suspected duty-unpaid cigarettes discovered both beneath the vehicle and inside its engine compartment.
The driver reportedly fled the scene before officers arrived, prompting investigations by both the Singapore Police Force (SPF) and Singapore Customs.
According to Shin Min Daily News, The accident happened at around 9am along the Kranji Expressway (KJE) slip road leading into Brickland Road, where the vehicle is believed to have skidded on its own before mounting a kerb and crashing into roadside infrastructure.
Illegal Cigarettes Found Scattered Around Damaged Vehicle
An eyewitness told Chinese daily Shin Min Daily News that she drove past shortly after the crash and noticed numerous packets of suspected duty-unpaid cigarettes lying underneath the damaged car.
She also observed that the vehicle had mounted the road divider, while a nearby road sign had been knocked over during the collision.
At that point, police had yet to arrive and the driver was nowhere to be seen, leading her to believe that he may have fled immediately after the accident.
When reporters later reached the location, the front section of the vehicle had sustained extensive damage. One of its front wheels was suspended off the ground, while various parts of the vehicle had become detached due to the impact.
Singapore Customs Officers Recover More Cigarettes
Police officers secured the area and were seen examining the underside of the vehicle as part of their investigations.
Around midday, officers from Singapore Customs arrived at the scene and opened the vehicle’s bonnet.
More bundles of suspected duty-unpaid cigarettes were subsequently recovered from the engine compartment.
According to reports, officers retrieved more than 10 bundles before placing them into evidence boxes. Police investigators were also seen documenting the scene and tagging evidence while inquiries continued.
A contractor later arrived after being instructed by the Land Transport Authority to inspect the damaged road sign once the vehicle had been removed.
Eyewitness Says Driver Appeared Calm Before Running Off
Another witness, a 60-year-old man, recalled hearing a loud bang before seeing the driver exit the vehicle.
He estimated the man to be between 30 and 40 years old and said the driver appeared composed, showing no obvious signs of being injured or unsteady.
Expecting the driver to contact the authorities, the witness was instead surprised when the man allegedly ran away from the crash site.
Police Investigations Ongoing
In response to media queries, the Singapore Police Force confirmed it was alerted to the incident at about 9am on Jun. 26.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the Malaysian-registered car is believed to have self-skidded along the KJE slip road into Brickland Road.
Police added that the driver had already left before officers arrived, while items believed to be duty-unpaid cigarettes were found inside the vehicle.
The authorities said any offences relating to customs laws will be referred to Singapore Customs. Investigations remain ongoing.
Image via Shin Min Daily News