Taxi driver, 73, who lost consciousness while driving on ECP dies

A 73-year-old taxi driver who lost consciousness while driving along the East Coast Parkway (ECP) on Jul. 6 has died, the police said.

Died in hospital

In an update, the police told Mothership they were alerted at about 12:50pm that day to an accident involving a taxi that was believed to have self-skidded.

The 73-year-old male driver had been taken to Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH), where he subsequently died.

Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) also confirmed it received a call for assistance along the ECP towards the Marina Coastal Expressway (MCE) at about 12:50pm on Jul. 6, and conveyed one person to TTSH.

What happened

The driver had been ferrying a passenger and her young son from Jewel Changi Airport towards Crawford Lane when he became unresponsive at the wheel.

Winnie Lee, 36, who was seated in the back of the ComfortDelGro taxi with her six-year-old son, recounted how the taxi had begun veering towards the road shoulder while travelling along the ECP.

She said the driver had appeared sleepy, and when she asked if he was all right, he replied that he was fine.

When she suggested he pull over to rest, he responded by asking: "Where do I stop?"

That was the driver's last response before he became unresponsive, Lee said.

Police investigations into the accident are ongoing.

Mothership has reached out to ComfortDelGro for comment on the driver's death.