SINGAPORE: Public transport operator SMRT is cooperating with police investigations after an elderly passenger sustained injuries following a fall on one of its buses.
The incident occurred last Friday (Jan 17) at around 7.20pm when Mr Othman Ahmad, 65, was travelling home on bus service 187 near Bukit Batok Central.
Mr Othman said the bus "suddenly drove so fast" before braking abruptly, causing him to lose his balance. “I tried to grab a pole, but then didn’t manage to and went down, and everything went blank for a while,” said Mr Othman, who works in the logistics sector.
“I heard someone say to get a tissue, and I also heard some of (the passengers) ask the bus driver to stop … My blood was all over the bus,” he recalled.
He said that the bus eventually came to a stop and the ambulance arrived a short while later.
The Singapore Civil Defence Force confirmed it received a call for assistance. Paramedics took Mr Othman to Ng Teng Fong General Hospital, where his head injury – located above his right eye – was stitched up.
Mr Othman said he was discharged from the hospital several hours later with a medical bill of S$154 (US$114). However, he continued experiencing symptoms such as head pain and blurry vision in his right eye in the days following the incident.
Despite his injuries, he returned to work on Monday without informing his employer. “It’s a contract job … once I talk to them (about the accident), maybe they will stop (hiring me for) the job, so I don’t dare,” he explained.
Mr Othman also lodged a police report the day after the accident, which the police confirmed they have received.
He tried to contact SMRT for compensation for his injury using its customer hotline, but could not get through to a staff member.
Responding to queries from CNA, SMRT said the bus was departing from a bus stop near Bukit Batok Central when an elderly passenger “released his hold on a grab pole and fell”.
“No injuries were reported among the other passengers onboard during the incident,” said deputy managing director of buses Vincent Gay.
He added that the bus driver rendered immediate assistance to Mr Othman and stayed with him until the ambulance arrived.
“As the passenger did not provide his contact details, our care team was able to reach out to him only when his friend called our hotline on Jan 22,” he said.
Mr Othman confirmed that SMRT staff members have since contacted him to begin the process of compensation for his medical bills.
SMRT also emphasised the importance of passenger safety on buses.
“For the safety of all passengers, we remind everyone to hold onto grab poles, stanchion poles and hand grips while onboard buses,” said Mr Gay.
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The incident occurred last Friday (Jan 17) at around 7.20pm when Mr Othman Ahmad, 65, was travelling home on bus service 187 near Bukit Batok Central.
Mr Othman said the bus "suddenly drove so fast" before braking abruptly, causing him to lose his balance. “I tried to grab a pole, but then didn’t manage to and went down, and everything went blank for a while,” said Mr Othman, who works in the logistics sector.
“I heard someone say to get a tissue, and I also heard some of (the passengers) ask the bus driver to stop … My blood was all over the bus,” he recalled.
He said that the bus eventually came to a stop and the ambulance arrived a short while later.
The Singapore Civil Defence Force confirmed it received a call for assistance. Paramedics took Mr Othman to Ng Teng Fong General Hospital, where his head injury – located above his right eye – was stitched up.
Mr Othman said he was discharged from the hospital several hours later with a medical bill of S$154 (US$114). However, he continued experiencing symptoms such as head pain and blurry vision in his right eye in the days following the incident.
Despite his injuries, he returned to work on Monday without informing his employer. “It’s a contract job … once I talk to them (about the accident), maybe they will stop (hiring me for) the job, so I don’t dare,” he explained.
Mr Othman also lodged a police report the day after the accident, which the police confirmed they have received.
He tried to contact SMRT for compensation for his injury using its customer hotline, but could not get through to a staff member.
Related:
NO OTHER INJURIES REPORTED: SMRT
Responding to queries from CNA, SMRT said the bus was departing from a bus stop near Bukit Batok Central when an elderly passenger “released his hold on a grab pole and fell”.
“No injuries were reported among the other passengers onboard during the incident,” said deputy managing director of buses Vincent Gay.
He added that the bus driver rendered immediate assistance to Mr Othman and stayed with him until the ambulance arrived.
“As the passenger did not provide his contact details, our care team was able to reach out to him only when his friend called our hotline on Jan 22,” he said.
Mr Othman confirmed that SMRT staff members have since contacted him to begin the process of compensation for his medical bills.
SMRT also emphasised the importance of passenger safety on buses.
“For the safety of all passengers, we remind everyone to hold onto grab poles, stanchion poles and hand grips while onboard buses,” said Mr Gay.
Continue reading...