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3 taken to hospital after van reverses into crowded Tuas eatery

SINGAPORE — Three people were taken to hospital after a van reversed into a crowded coffee shop in Tuas at lunchtime on Friday (March 12), hitting several tables and a stall.

The van reversed more than 5m into the coffee shop, smashing through a brick divider and pinning a woman at a fruit stall that she was tending, an eyewitness said.

The van reversed more than 5m into the coffee shop, smashing through a brick divider and pinning a woman at a fruit stall that she was tending, an eyewitness said.

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SINGAPORE — Three people were taken to hospital after a van reversed into a crowded coffee shop in Tuas at lunchtime on Friday (March 12), hitting several tables and a stall.

The incident at Canteen Chuang Hock on Gul Street 3 occurred at around 12.40pm, at a time when hundreds of patrons were having their meals.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force said that it took three people to Ng Teng Fong General Hospital after it received a call for assistance.

The police said on Friday that the two men and a woman, aged between 40 and 69, were conscious when taken to the hospital.

“A 63-year-old male driver is currently assisting in police investigations into the case of negligent act causing hurt,” the police said.

An eyewitness said that a woman who was tending to a fruit stall, as well as a customer, were taken away by two ambulances. Their injuries did not appear to be severe, though the man was bleeding from injuries and the woman had to be placed on a stretcher.

A woman who was tending to a fruit stall, as well as a customer, were taken away by two ambulances, an eyewitness said. Photo: Kevin Lim

Mr Kevin Lim, an engineer in his 30s, told TODAY that he heard a sudden screeching sound, and caught sight of a silver van barrelling into the coffee shop and towards him. He escaped injuries as he was around a metre away from the van’s path.

“But there was one guy who was pushed and dragged on the floor by the tables that the vehicle hit. It happened very quickly because the van was accelerating,” Mr Lim said. 

The van drove more than 5m into the premises of the coffee shop, smashing a brick divider and pinning the woman at her shop, he added.

Everyone was shocked, Mr Lim said, adding that people reacted quickly to help the people who were injured.

The aftermath of an accident at a coffee shop where many people were having their lunch. Photo: Kevin Lim

The driver was cooperative and had checked on the people he hit, Mr Lim said. He also gave his contact details to another driver, because the van had also hit his parked car.

Mr Lim had parked his car beside the van which, like him, escaped any damage.

“I’m just happy to be alive,” he said.

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accident Tuas SCDF car crash van

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