Taxi ends up under Choa Chu Kang block, man, 71, arrested for drink driving

A resident was having dinner with his family at their home along Teck Whye Lane at around 8:45pm on Mar. 10 when he suddenly heard an "ear-piercing" noise from downstairs.

He then found out that the sound originated from a blue taxi on the ground floor of Block 122 Teck Whye Lane, and its tyre was deflated, reported Shin Min Daily News.

However, instead of leaving the scene, the taxi driver allegedly "drove the car onto a pedestrian walkway for around 50m before stopping", recounted the resident.

In response, the resident alerted the police, and the taxi driver, a 71-year-old male, was subsequently arrested for drink driving.

Passers-by 'stopped taxi driver from driving further'

Speaking to Shin Min, the resident who witnessed the incident said that after the taxi driver noticed his vehicle had mounted the walkway and there was no exit ahead, he apparently "reversed his car for another 10m before making a stop".

At the time, the resident had made his way downstairs because he was worried that the taxi driver had suffered a heart attack.

Together with passers-by, the resident tried to stop the taxi driver from driving further.

According to the resident, he "could tell that the taxi driver was intoxicated", and passers-by also "noticed the smell of alcohol on him".

"I walked up to his car door, turned off the engine, and tried to help him get out of the car. Although he initially declined my offer, he complied eventually," recounted the resident.

Police at scene

Another witness told Shin Min that after police officers were called to the scene, they cordoned off the ground floor of the public housing block and began investigations.

At around 10:20pm, the taxi driver was taken away by a police vehicle, said the witness.

When Shin Min reporters arrived at the scene at around 10:30pm, the ground floor of the public housing block was no longer cordoned off.

The taxi, however, was still parked there, and some family members of the taxi driver were waiting for the towing truck.

Damages sustained by taxi

According to Shin Min, the taxi's front left tyre was deflated, and its bumper had fallen off.

The left side of the taxi was also damaged after colliding with a wall at the public housing block.

Some blue paint and car parts could be found at a wall located approximately 20m away from the taxi.

The taxi was eventually towed away after the towing truck arrived at 11pm.

Taxi driver terminated: ComfortDelGro

In response to Mothership's queries, the Singapore Police Force (SPF) confirmed they were alerted to the incident at around 9pm on Monday.

Police investigations are ongoing.

A spokesperson for ComfortDelGro (CDG), which the taxi belongs to, said the safety of its passengers, pedestrians, and all road users is its "top priority".

The company has "a zero-tolerance policy towards drink driving", added the spokesperson.

"The driver's contract has been terminated with immediate effect, and we will be assisting the police in their investigations," read the statement.

Top images via Shin Min Daily News