Boy, 8, dashes across Hougang road, gets hit by van & trapped underneath

An eight-year-old boy dashed across the road and got hit by a van in Hougang.

He is suspected to have been chasing a bus, reported Shin Min Daily News.

While he survived, he ended up trapped under the van and sustained injuries.

He remains in hospital.

Trapped underneath van

The incident took place at around 3:50pm on Feb. 23 at Lorong Ah Soo in Hougang.

The boy's mother, who gave her name as Nisa (transliteration from Chinese), said that the family of five had been preparing to go out for dinner.

She said she'd been holding his hand while waiting for the pedestrian traffic light to turn green when he suddenly broke free.

He dashed out onto the road, where he was hit by a van.

The accident left him trapped under the van, with "one hand sticking out", an eyewitness recalled.

Nisa said her husband had already crossed the road when this happened, but added that she did not understand why her son had run out onto the road.

"My son was very scared and kept crying and shouting from under the van, but eventually managed to crawl out by himself," she said.

She added that her second daughter also sustained a minor fracture in her foot.

She'd reportedly run out onto the road after her brother, and got injured in the process.

Her eldest daughter remains in shock from seeing her brother get hit.

But Nisa said she does not blame the driver.

"I know it was the children's fault, I won't blame the driver. The most important thing is that the children are okay."

Crowd amassed

A resident, who gave his name as Chen, said a crowd of over 50 people amassed at the scene in the accident's aftermath.

Someone also suggested lifting the van to rescue the boy, but was stopped.

Fortunately, the boy eventually emerged from underneath the van by himself.

Passers-by chipped in to help the family, with some holding out umbrellas to shelter the boy from rain.

Others comforted the boy's sisters, who were crying, according to another resident.

The van driver, who looked to be around 60, was also seen apologising to the boy's family.

Rescue personnel and vehicles from the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) arrived at the scene soon after to administer first aid.

After the boy and his mother were conveyed to the hospital, a member of the public called a taxi to take his father and sisters there too.

Shin Min reported that the boy suffered a deep cut that required stitches, and a wound on his leg, but had no broken bones.

He remains in hospital for observation.

Investigations ongoing

In response to Mothership's queries, the Singapore Police Force confirmed that they were alerted to the accident.

An eight-year-old boy was conveyed conscious to the hospital.

Police investigations are ongoing.

Top image from Shin Min Daily News