By Royston Sim
A TAXI driver believed to have been under the influence of drugs
went on a rampage, smashing into 10 cars while driving across
Singapore before police finally arrested him in Boon Lay.
The Trans-Cab driver was nabbed at the junction of Boon Lay Drive
and Boon Lay Avenue, after a hit-and-run spree that began in the
eastern part of Singapore on Monday night.
The first incident took place at around 9.15pm in Tampines, while
the final incident occurred nearly two hours later, at
11.05pm.
The accidents spanned the island from east to west in at least
seven locations: Tampines Avenue 5, Sims Avenue East, Lornie Road,
Bukit Timah Road, Jurong East Avenue 1, Jurong West Avenue 1 and
Boon Lay Drive.
In most of the incidents, the taxi slammed into other moving cars
from the side, denting their body panels. It is believed no one was
injured.
Of the 10 cars that were hit, The Straits Times understands that
five were private cars and the rest were ComfortDelGro taxis.
Some of the cabbies discovered that all their vehicles had been hit
by the same taxi when they met at the workshop and swapped notes on
what had happened to them.
A ComfortDelGro spokesman said it was helping the affected drivers
with accident claims.
In a statement, police said they received a call at 11.05pm on
Monday, informing them of an accident in Jurong West Avenue
1.
Officers who arrived established that the cabby had been involved
in several hit-and-run incidents. He was arrested on suspicion of
possessing and taking controlled drugs.
According to a Shin Min Daily News report, the cabby was extremely
agitated and resisted arrest. The newspaper said that he shouted
loudly at police officers and struggled before he was
handcuffed.
Trans-Cab general manager Jasmine Tan yesterday said that the
police have suspended the 50-year-old cabby's driving
licence.
The company also terminated his contract. She said the driver
joined Trans-Cab only a month ago.
One of the victims, a ComfortDelGro taxi driver named only as Lim,
told Shin Min that he was driving along Lornie Road at around 10pm
on Monday when he noticed a taxi with its lights off swerving in
and out of its lane.
As he drove past on the right of the taxi, it rammed into his cab
without warning.
Mr Lim said he flicked his lights and honked, but the Trans-Cab
driver ignored him. He said he chased after it, but the cabby
jumped a red light while turning into the other side of the road to
get away.
Mr Lim's passenger called the police, and the cabby lodged a report
on Tuesday.
Police investigations are ongoing.
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Additional reporting by Jalelah Abu Baker
