Amputee, 69, dies after being hit by garbage truck in Bukit Panjang, driver, 39, arrested for careless driving

An elderly man collecting recyclables near a Housing and Development Board (HDB) block in Bukit Panjang passed away on Apr. 25 after he was hit by a garbage truck.

His wheelchair was found lodged beneath the vehicle.

The man, 69, had previously undergone a right leg amputation.

Paramedics who arrived at the scene performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on the man, who was unconscious, before conveying him to the hospital.

He was subsequently pronounced dead.

A 39-year-old truck driver has been arrested for careless driving causing death.

What happened

According to Chinese daily Shin Min Daily News, the accident occurred at around 8:25am on Apr. 25 at 647B Senja Close.

A resident, Qiu Weihong (transliteration), told Shin Min that he was on his way to work when he saw the man lying motionless on the ground.

A garbage truck was nearby, with a wheelchair lodged underneath it.

"I didn’t see any blood. Besides two workers in the garbage truck company uniforms, there were also two members of the public present. One of them had tried to check the man's pulse," Qiu said.

He added that paramedics arrived shortly after and administered CPR, with the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED).

A friend identified the deceased as "Ah Lun", and said he was a familiar presence in the area.

One resident interviewed said the deceased regularly collected cans and bottles from nearby bins each morning.

"He sometimes uses a wheelchair, but he can stand when he's looking for something. He's always alone," she said.

Another resident said the man would usually go out in his wheelchair, loading it with items salvaged from nearby bins before pushing it back unsteadily.

Another resident added: "Seeing him like that always made me feel sad."

An acquaintance told Shin Min that the man had his leg amputated due to diabetes and had been renting a home.

He had reportedly been due to move into an HDB flat in Woodlands in June.

His sisters also live in that area.

Investigations at the scene lasted about three hours

When Shin Min reporters arrived at the scene, the area had been cordoned off.

Police officers were seen placing evidence markers and photographing items at the scene at around 11am.

An employee believed to be the driver was later taken aside for questioning before being escorted to a police vehicle.

Other staff from the company also arrived at the scene.

Investigations lasted approximately three hours.

Town council workers subsequently removed the wheelchair from beneath the truck at around noon.

In response to Mothership's queries, the police confirmed they were alerted to an accident involving a truck and a pedestrian along Senja Close.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) conveyed a 69-year-old male pedestrian unconscious to Woodlands hospital, where he later died, while a 39-year-old male truck driver was arrested for careless driving without due care and attention causing death.

Investigations are ongoing.

Top photos from Shin Min Daily News