Woman, 97, in wheelchair, fell backward on bus in Bukit Batok, needed stitches

A 97-year-old woman suffered a head injury and needed stitches after she fell backwards in a bus while on her wheelchair.

The incident occurred at about 4:20pm on Apr. 19, 2026 in Bukit Batok, Shin Min Daily News reported.

The impact caused her to hit her head and bleed from the wound.

Outing

Speaking to Shin Min, the woman's daughter, Chung Sau-ming (transliteration), said she and her domestic helper had accompanied her elderly mother on an outing before taking bus 990 home.

Chung said the bus driver lowered the ramp for them to board as her mother, Hui Leung-wah (transliteration), was in a wheelchair.

After helping her mother onto the bus with her domestic helper, they placed the wheelchair in the accessible area and locked the wheels before finding seats.

Shin Min reported that the bus driver then retracted the ramp before returning to his seat.

"My mother was facing away from the door, the [domestic helper] was sitting near her, and I was sitting a little further back," said Chung.

Fell backward

However, when the bus turned a corner, she noticed that the wheelchair slid backward twice.

It later tilted backward and overturned, Shin Min reported, adding that her mother hit her head after she fell to the ground with the wheelchair.

An image provided to Shin Min showed that her wound bled and stained her hair.

"We had clearly locked the wheelchair wheels, but we still had an accident," said Chung.

She added: "Many kind passengers came forward to help."

"Some helped lift my mother up, and others helped stop the bleeding."

Needed stitches

Noting that the bus driver immediately went to help her mother stop the bleeding and seemed very remorseful, Chung said the driver called an ambulance and had the passengers alight from the bus.

He also notified the bus company, she told Shin Min.

Chung added: "[The bus driver] kept saying it was his fault for not helping to secure the wheelchair or teaching us how to properly position it, and that he was responsible."

Her mother subsequently received around four or five stitches at the hospital, said Chung, adding that she has since been discharged and is recuperating at home, with her condition gradually improving.

Responding to Mothership's queries, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said they received a call for assistance along Bukit Batok East Avenue 6 at about 4:20pm on Apr. 19, 2026.

SCDF conveyed a person to Ng Teng Fong General Hospital.

Bus company apologised

Following the incident, a spokesperson for Tower Transit told Shin Min that the driver should have ensured the wheelchair was properly secured before departure and apologised to the passenger and the family.

"We deeply apologise for the harm and distress caused to our passengers, caregivers and families," Tower Transit told Shin Min, adding that they have contacted the passenger's family to provide assistance.

According to Shin Min, Chung confirmed that the bus company told her they would cover medical expenses and provided the insurance company's contact information.

In consideration of the need to take her mother for follow-up appointments and take better care of her in future, Chung said she hoped to receive compensation if possible.

Admitted to being negligent

Chung told Shin Min that she had been careless and did not know the correct way to position the wheelchair.

Adding that she also felt responsible for her mother's injury, Chung said she later learned that "the wheelchair should not be facing away from the door, but rather facing away from the driver, and should be secured".

"The elderly are most afraid of falling," she said, adding that she is glad her mother "is alright" and having a good appetite, with no serious condition found after the examination.

"It was just a superficial injury," Chung told Shin Min.

She added: "Otherwise, I would have felt even more guilty. I will definitely be more careful in the future."