Motorcyclist decapitated in accident at Tuas

SINGAPORE - A motorcyclist's head was severed yesterday morning when he was hit by a tipper truck at Tuas.

The motorcycle was turning from Tuas Avenue 7 into Tuas West Road when the truck, which was carrying rubbish, collided with it, Lianhe Wanbao reported.

Police and the Singapore Civil Defence Force said that they received a call on the accident at about 6am.

A security guard, Mr Cai, at a nearby factory told Wanbao that he saw what he thought was a helmet fly and roll to the middle of the road, at least 5m away from the body at the back of the truck.

"At first, I thought that the helmet fell from the lorry. There was blood on the road and I didn't dare to walk any closer," he said.

"I heard only later that the (rider's) head was severed in the accident. It's so sad!"

He also said he saw the lorry driver make calls while pacing the bloodstained scene in a distraught state. At one point, the driver broke down in tears, he said.

The victim is understood to be a Malaysian man in his 50s who worked as a welder in a factory in Tuas, Shin Min Daily News said.

The police said that the truck driver was arrested for causing death by a rash act, and that they are investigating the case.

Witnesses may call the police on 6547-0000 to provide information.

Another security guard, Mr Sulaiman, who has worked in the area for three years, said that there have been serious accidents every year that he's worked there. The 50-year-old told Wanbao that many heavy vehicles ply the roads there and that some will speed.

This accident comes just three days after a motorcyclist died in another accident on Monday afternoon.

That motorcyclist was reportedly donning his raincoat on the road shoulder of Bukit Timah Expressway when he was run over by a trailer truck.

Rules regarding heavy vehicles were tightened in October, with those caught speeding subject to extra inspections. Traffic Police statistics show that heavy vehicles were involved in about 20 per cent of fatal accidents in 2012.

myp@sph.com.sg

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