60-year-old PHV driver trapped after tree falls on 2 cars in Dempsey, rescued by spa staff

A 60-year-old private-hire driver found himself trapped after a tree fell on his car in Dempsey on Saturday (Aug 22) morning.

The driver, identified as Saiful, told The Straits Times (ST) that he had heard a loud cracking sound as he was turning his white Nissan multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) out of the Museum of Ice Cream along Loewen Road. 

"I looked up and I could see the tree on the left side of my car slowly toppling in front of me," he said

The 60-year-old tried to reverse his vehicle, he recalled, but part of the tree had already toppled onto the passenger's side of the car, crushing the roof and trapping Saiful, who was unable to open the door from the inside.

Employees from a spa in the area later came out and helped free him from the driver's seat, reported ST. 

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) and an ambulance reportedly arrived shortly after and assessed Saiful for injuries. He was unhurt and his family arrived soon afterwards.

In response to AsiaOne's queries, the SCDF said it received a call for assistance at about 10am to the incident along 75 Loewen Road, but no ambulance assistance was required.

Videos of the aftermath shared by Shin Min Daily News on TikTok the same day showed a white MPV and a blue sedan underneath the fallen tree. Emergency personnel and equipment were seen clearing the debris. 

By 5pm, the road had been reopened to traffic and the affected vehicles had been cleared, according to ST. 

The Singapore Land Authority (SLA) said in a statement on Saturday that it is aware of the incident and has responded to the situation on site with the relevant stakeholders and agencies. 

"The immediate priority is to ensure public safety, secure the affected area and facilitate the safe removal of the fallen tree to minimise disruption," said SLA, adding that no major injuries were reported. 

The statement added that SLA will work with its stakeholders and agencies to assess the circumstances surrounding the incident and determine if any follow-up measures are needed, including checks on surrounding trees. 

"All other locations in Dempsey remain accessible. We thank members of the public for their patience and cooperation while the necessary works are carried out."

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