Sunday, 22 April 2007
Road traffic accident along Commonwealth Avenue

The SCDF was alerted to a road traffic accident involving a lorry along Commonwealth Avenue this morning at about 1:05am. SCDF responded to the incident with 1 Fire Engine, 1 Ambulance and 1 section of the Disaster Assistance Rescue Team (DART).

Upon arrival at the incident site about 4 minutes later, SCDF found the affected lorry lying on its side with the victim pinned between the driver’s seat and the smashed portion of the dashboard. To gain access to the trapped driver, SCDF rescuers had to cut open the roof of the driver’s cabin using hydraulic cutter equipment. The dashboard of the lorry was then carefully prised open with a hydraulic spreader equipment to free the victim’s legs. The trapped victim was extricated from the lorry within 30 minutes. While the rescue operation was in progress, SCDF paramedics simultaneously provided first aid attention to the victim.

The victim was in a stable and conscious state throughout the incident and had sustained fractures on his left arm and right leg as well as laceration above his left eye. He was immediately conveyed to Alexandra Hospital for further treatment.