A 54-year-old van driver was taken to hospital after his vehicle overturned during a collision with a car at a busy Geylang junction in the early hours of Sunday (23 August).
The accident happened at around 3.30am at the junction of Guillemard Road and Geylang Road, according to the Singapore Police Force. The van was left lying on its side in the middle of the junction following the crash.
The driver was conscious when he was conveyed to Tan Tock Seng Hospital by the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF). The extent of his injuries has not been disclosed.
Car Driver Arrested After Geylang Collision
Images circulating online showed the van resting on its right side across the junction, while a nearby car appeared to have sustained substantial damage to its front section.
Several men were seen attempting to push the van back onto its wheels. However, the vehicle remained on its side when the person who posted the photographs returned to the scene. Police officers were also reportedly present and directing traffic around the accident site.
The crash attracted attention among private-hire drivers after photographs were shared in a Facebook group. The images provided a glimpse of the aftermath, although the circumstances leading up to the collision have not been established by police.
Police subsequently confirmed that the 34-year-old male driver of the car was arrested for drink driving and driving without a valid driving licence.
Passenger Also Arrested Over Unlicensed Driving
The incident also resulted in the arrest of the car’s passenger. Police said the 31-year-old male passenger was arrested for allegedly permitting a person to drive without a valid licence.
This means both occupants of the car are now involved in the police investigation, although their respective cases involve different alleged offences. Police have not released further details about whether the driver had previously been disqualified from driving or why he did not have a valid licence.
The investigation remains ongoing, and it is not yet clear whether additional charges will follow.
Singapore Road Safety Concerns
The collision highlights the potentially serious consequences of combining drink driving and unlicensed driving, particularly on Singapore roads where traffic can remain active even during the early morning hours.
Drink-driving offences in Singapore can carry significant legal and financial consequences, while driving without a valid licence is also a serious road-traffic offence. Drivers are expected to ensure they are legally authorised to operate a vehicle and fit to drive before getting behind the wheel.
For motorists travelling through Geylang, the accident also serves as a reminder that junctions such as Geylang Road and Guillemard Road can become hazardous when vehicles travel through at speed or when drivers fail to comply with traffic regulations.
Police investigations into the collision are continuing.