Past cases of cars plunging into rivers here

SINGAPORE — Sunday’s (Jan 24) car plunge into the Alexandra Canal in River Valley was not the first time a car crash ended with a vehicle diving into the river.

Here’s a quick look at past cases:

- June 24, 1989: During a heavy downpour, 31-year-old driver of the Toyota Corolla crashed into the river near Clarke Quay, killing five people. The driver was later found to have been drunk at the time of the accident.

- March 27, 1991: A taxi driver blacked out behind the wheel and drove into the Singapore River at high tide near Boat Quay. He was rescued by a hawker who dived into the river after witnessing the accident.

- Oct 17, 1993: A businessman and two women were killed when a Jaguar sports car crashed through a metal guard rail on a bridge and plunged five metres into Geylang River. Three other passengers were taken to hospital.

- On Dec 22, 1993, a 22-year-old driver drowned in the Singapore River at high tide near the junction of Boat Quay and Tew Chew Street, after his Ford Laser plunged in at about 5am. There were no barriers by the riverside.