Quick Read
- 13 people were hospitalized after a lorry and car collision on Orchard Road, Singapore, on January 28, 2026.
- The accident occurred at the junction of Orchard Road and Orchard Link, near the Apple store, with vehicles ending up on the pavement.
- Those hospitalized included a 64-year-old car driver and 12 foreign worker lorry passengers aged 30-51; all were conscious.
- Six injured individuals were taken to Tan Tock Seng Hospital, and seven to Singapore General Hospital.
- Police investigations into the incident are ongoing.
SINGAPORE (Azat TV) – Thirteen individuals were hospitalized early Wednesday, January 28, 2026, after a significant collision between a lorry and a car on Singapore’s prominent Orchard Road, prompting an immediate police investigation into the incident. The accident, which occurred at a busy intersection, saw both vehicles veer onto the pavement, causing damage and disrupting early morning activity in the bustling shopping district.
The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) reported being alerted to the accident at approximately 6:20 AM, at the junction of Orchard Road and Orchard Link. Police were alerted minutes earlier, at 6:15 AM. Photos from the scene, shared by an Straits Times reader, depicted a lorry and a car on the pavement directly in front of the Apple store, with a police car visible nearby. Both vehicles sustained front bumper damage, and a public bench on the pavement was knocked over, highlighting the force of the impact.
Paramedics transported six of the injured to Tan Tock Seng Hospital and seven to Singapore General Hospital. All 13 individuals taken to the hospital were conscious. In addition to those hospitalized, another five people were assessed by paramedics for minor injuries at the scene but declined further medical attention. The injured comprised a 64-year-old male car driver and 12 male lorry passengers, aged between 30 and 51. Police confirmed that the lorry passengers were foreign workers.
Emergency services responded swiftly to manage the scene and attend to the injured. By approximately 9 AM, both the lorry and the car remained on the pavement, according to an employee from a nearby Adidas store. However, by 10:20 AM, the vehicles had been towed away. The knocked-over bench was restored to an upright position but remained cordoned off for safety. Despite the severity of the accident, traffic in the area returned to normal within hours, with pedestrian crossings functioning as usual.
Police investigations into the cause of the accident are currently ongoing. Authorities have not yet released details regarding the circumstances that led to the collision or assigned fault. The incident underscores the potential hazards even in well-regulated urban environments, particularly during early morning hours when visibility or driver fatigue could be factors.
Incident Details Unfold on Busy Thoroughfare
The collision brought a significant emergency response to one of Singapore’s most iconic streets. The precise timing of the alerts to SCDF and police, within minutes of each other, suggests a rapid notification system, crucial in managing such incidents in high-traffic zones. The location, directly in front of prominent retail outlets like Apple and Adidas, ensured high visibility for the aftermath, drawing public attention to the morning’s events. The sight of vehicles on the pavement and a damaged bench served as a stark reminder of the accident’s intensity.
Casualties and Medical Response
The distribution of the injured across two major hospitals, Tan Tock Seng and Singapore General, indicates the scale of the medical response required. The fact that all 13 individuals were conscious upon transport is a positive detail, suggesting that while injuries were serious enough to warrant hospitalization, they were not immediately life-threatening. The demographic breakdown, identifying the lorry passengers as foreign workers, highlights a demographic often involved in such incidents, raising questions about workplace safety and transportation protocols for such groups.
Scene Management and Aftermath
The efficient cleanup and restoration of normalcy on Orchard Road by late morning demonstrated the capability of local authorities to manage and mitigate disruption. The prompt towing of vehicles and righting of the bench allowed the area to quickly resume its usual function. This rapid response minimized the long-term impact on traffic flow and pedestrian movement in a critical commercial and tourist area.
Ongoing Investigations and Safety Questions
As police investigations continue, the focus will likely be on determining the exact sequence of events, potential causes such as driver error, mechanical failure, or external factors. The incident on Orchard Road serves as a potent reminder of the importance of road safety, particularly for large vehicles and their passengers. The findings of the ongoing police probe will be crucial in understanding how such an accident occurred and in informing any potential preventative measures for the future.
The incident on Orchard Road, a key commercial artery, highlights the vulnerability of even highly organized urban environments to significant traffic accidents, underscoring the constant need for vigilance and adherence to road safety regulations, especially for commercial vehicles transporting multiple passengers.