River Valley High teacher knocked down by van outside school

SINGAPORE - A River Valley High School teacher was hit by a goods van suspected of beating the red light near the school gate.

Mrs Eileen Pua Jiu Er, 31, a chemistry teacher, suffered three fractures and was sent to hospital, Lianhe Wanbao reported.

The accident happened on Tuesday, at a traffic crossing outside the school at about 12.15pm.

Mrs Pua had been crossing a road along Boon Lay Avenue, just outside the school, when the accident occured.

This morning, Mrs Pua spoke to reporters at the National University Hospital's Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

She said she was on her way home and had just started crossing the road when she suddenly felt something hit her forcefully.

When she regained consciousness, she found herself lying on a hospital bed.

"I saw the pedestrian traffic light turn green before stepping off the curb," she said.

"I am a teacher, and I need to set a good example when I'm outside the school, so I definitely wouldn't cross when the light is still red," she told Wanbao reporters.

She suffered multiple fractures all over her body, broken ribs and is expected to take at least a month to recover.

Closed-circuit television footage was not able to determine if Mrs Pua had dashed across the road when the light had not yet turned green or if the van driver had beaten the red light.

dithwoo@sph.com.sg