By Ted Chen and Bryan Toh
THREE workers died on Tuesday morning when a lorry carrying
excess passengers skidded and overturned on the slip road from PIE
towards Thomson Road.
Two died on the spot while another died later at Tan Tock Seng
Hospital (TTSH), where 14 others were sent for treatment of
injuries. All 17 are Chinese nationals and work for CREC
Construction Pte Ltd.
The lorry skidded and slammed into the metal railings of the
divider separating the slip road to Thomson Road and the PIE.
When ambulances arrived at 8.10am, two men were found in a drain
along the divider, one of whom was already dead. Most of the
vehicle damage was on its left side, with the passenger door
smashed in, and windshield and left cargo side railing knocked off.
Injured workers said those with more serious injuries had sat
towards the left of the vehicle.
Traffic police closed off a lane on the slip road and the
left-most lane of PIE, causing a rush-hour traffice jam till the
lorry was lifted by two tow trucks at 10.45am.
Eight of the injured who suffered abrasions and simple arm
fractures, including the driver, had been discharged from TTSH. Six
others were warded, some for trauma and others for minor abrasions,
but all are in stable condition.
