Elderly woman declared brain dead after fall in bus

The family of an elderly woman, who was declared brain dead after falling in an SBS Transit bus when it stopped suddenly, has asked to see video footage of the accident.

Last Saturday, 67-year-old coffee shop assistant Tan Ah Tit was on her way home from her Toa Payoh workplace and about to alight in Sengkang East Road when the driver of service 109 braked to avoid crashing into a vehicle in front.

According to Chinese newspaper Lianhe Wanbao, Madam Tan, who was standing, lost her balance, hit her head and fell unconscious. The accident took place at 4pm. Passengers rushed to help and called for an ambulance.

Madam Tan was taken to Khoo Teck Puat Hospital (KTPH), where her legs were found to be broken. She also had a brain haemorrhage.

She had surgery to stop the bleeding, but doctors later declared her brain dead. Her 47-year-old son, a property agent who wanted to be known only as Mr Seah, said he realised his mother had not returned home when he went to get a cup of water at 1am on Sunday.

She would normally reach home by 10.15pm. Mr Seah started calling hospitals to check her whereabouts, when KTPH staff told him she had been warded there for nine hours and had an operation.

He told The Straits Times yesterday he has been in contact with the police and SBS Transit.

He has also asked to see closed-circuit television camera footage from the bus. "I just want to see the video and know what exactly happened," he said. "That would give me and my family some closure. I'm not angry, I am just very sad." He added that he lost his father at a young age, and that his mother had raised him and his two siblings single-handedly.

Ms Tammy Tan, senior vice-president of corporate communications at SBS Transit, said: "We are very sorry to learn of Madam Tan's injuries and have visited her at the hospital. We are also in touch with the family to extend assistance as best as we can.

"Meanwhile, we are assisting the police in their investigations."

samboh@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on September 3, 2015.
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