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Gojek driver drives passenger into condo pool, management seeks legal advice to claim for damages

SINGAPORE — A rainy evening got even wetter for one Gojek driver and his passenger, after the driver drove his sports utility vehicle into a condominium swimming pool on Upper Bukit Timah Road. 

A driver of a white Honda Vezel drove into a swimming pool (pictured) at The Hillside condominium on Feb 28, 2023.

A driver of a white Honda Vezel drove into a swimming pool (pictured) at The Hillside condominium on Feb 28, 2023.

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  • A Gojek driver drove his car into a swimming pool at The Hillside condominium 
  • He was ferrying a passenger, who was going to visit her family at one of the blocks at the condo
  • The condo's management is seeking legal advice to claim property damage
  • Gojek confirmed that it is investigating the incident 

SINGAPORE — A rainy evening got even wetter for one Gojek driver and his passenger, after the driver drove his sports utility vehicle into a condominium swimming pool on Upper Bukit Timah Road. 

Described by online users as "carpooling gone wrong", the condo's management is now seeking legal advice on property damage.

The management said on Friday (March 3) that the driver had claimed to be working under Gojek and the ride-hailing firm has confirmed with TODAY that this was the case. 

At about 9pm on Tuesday, a white Honda Vezel entered a swimming pool at The Hillside condo during heavy rain, with its front wheels and bonnet partially submerged while most of its chassis remained at the pool's edge. 

The condo's management said that both the driver and the passenger did not appear hurt in the incident.

Photos and videos later circulated on TikTok and Facebook, with people questioning the driver's abilities and some commenting as a joke that the driver wanted to wash the car. 

In a statement to the media on Friday, the condo's management said that the driver, who is an older man, was ferrying a female passenger who is a senior when the car entered the swimming pool. 

"We are now seeking legal advice to claim for property damage that the car has caused and will also be writing to Gojek to verify if the driver is indeed a Gojek driver and to inform the company of our claim," the condo's management said.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Giving a blow-by-blow account of how the incident occurred, the condo's management said that the passenger had intended to visit her family at one of the blocks there, but the driver had driven in an incorrect direction within the condo's compound. 

The driver then repeatedly hit some plants along the entrance to a pedestrian pathway, before driving onto a pathway that leads to the clubhouse entrance and the open recreation area next to the swimming pools. 

"This pathway is wide because it serves as an emergency fire engine access," the condo's representative said. 

Shortly after a car entered the swimming pool at The Hillside condominium (pictured), the driver was seen running out of the vehicle and the passenger got out on her own shortly after that.

The driver then drove for another five seconds on the pathway before stopping in front of the condo's clubhouse. After this, a security guard walked towards the car and spoke to the driver.

"Maniam (the security guard) said that he told the driver to reverse his car but the driver ignored him," the condo's representative said. 

"Closed-circuit television video shows that the driver continued forward and then turned right into the wading pool." 

He said that although it was raining heavily, the lights were on at the clubhouse and the swimming pools. 

Shortly after the car entered the pool, the driver was seen running out of the car, the condo's management said. About 25 seconds later, the passenger alighted from the car on her own. 

"When the driver was waiting at the clubhouse, the driver told security guard Ragu that he is a Gojek ride-hailing driver," the condo's representative said.

"Ragu then called the police and the police arrived shortly after that." 

Responding to questions from TODAY, Gojek said: "We have looked into this case and are speaking to the customer and the driver-partner to resolve the issue and take the necessary action."

It added that the safety and well-being of its customers and driver-partners is its "utmost concern", and that the firm does not condone any behaviour that violates its policies around safety and conduct.

Such policies are "clearly emphasised during the driver-partner onboarding process". 

"We are committed to providing a safe and positive experience for everyone on our platform, and will continue to work hard to strengthen training and education for our driver-partners."

In the driver services agreement published on Gojek's website, driver-partners have to maintain a valid policy of liability insurance when operating their vehicle while on the job, to cover any anticipated losses relating to them, their passengers, their vehicle and any third parties. 

The agreement states that "to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law", Gojek shall not be liable for indirect, incidental, special, exemplary, punitive or consequential damages, as well as personal injury or property damage. 

Related topics

Gojek swimming pool The Hillside condominium

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