Tree falls on at least 2 cars in Dempsey, 1 driver trapped as car roof crushed

A tree fell onto several cars along Loewen Road in the Dempsey area at about 10am on Aug. 22, damaging at least two vehicles.

Crushed the roof of a Nissan MPV

A video provided to Mothership by a reader showed that a tree had fallen onto a white Nissan multi-purpose vehicle (MPV), crushing the roof above the middle row of seats.

A separate photo showed a parked blue BMW that was also damaged, with parts of the tree on its bonnet.

According to the reader, she was waiting in her car for her daughter to finish her dance class when she heard a loud cracking sound.

Looking behind, she said she saw the base of the tree split in two before it slowly toppled.

Her first thought was to pray that the tree would not fall on her as her car was parked directly in front of it, she said.

After the tree fell, she got out of her car and saw two young children trapped underneath it.

Thankfully, the children were freed with minor scratches and their father took them away, she said.

The reader then heard people shouting from the other side of the fallen tree and saw that a driver was trapped in his car, prompting her to call 999 for help.

Speaking to The Straits Times (ST), the 60-year-old driver of the Nissan said he was turning out of the Museum of Ice Cream in Loewen Road when he heard a loud crackling sound.

Upon looking up, he saw the tree, which was on the left side of his vehicle, slowly toppling in front of him.

The driver said he tried to reverse, but part of the tree had already fallen onto the passenger side of the vehicle, crushing the roof.

Unable to open the door from within, he was subsequently trapped inside the car.

Fortunately, employees from a nearby spa later went out and helped to free him from the driver's seat.

The driver was not injured.

No major injuries reported

In response to Mothership's queries, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said that no ambulance assistance was required.

In a media statement, the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) said it was aware of the fallen tree along Loewen Road and had responded to the incident with relevant stakeholders and agencies.

"The immediate priority is to ensure public safety, secure the affected area and facilitate the safe removal of the fallen tree to minimise disruption," SLA said.

No major injuries were reported from the incident, it added.

SLA said it and the relevant stakeholders and agencies will assess the circumstances surrounding the incident and determine any necessary follow-up measures, including checks on surrounding trees where appropriate.

All other locations in Dempsey remain accessible, SLA said.

It thanked the public for their patience and cooperation while the necessary works are carried out.