TWELVE workers and a bus driver were injured last night after their bus slammed into a lorry in Ang Mo Kio, hurling them from their seats.
At least four of the workers - mostly women heading for the night shift in a nearby Motorola factory - were seriously injured, said police and the Singapore Civil Defence Force.
They were taken to Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH). Their conditions are not known.
Eight other workers had minor injuries in the crash, which happened just before 6pm. They were also ferried to the hospital, but later discharged.
Said Madam Umi Kasum, who was one of the injured: 'I was chatting with my colleagues when suddenly there was a bang and everyone was flung forward.
'One woman was bleeding from the head and others had cuts near their mouths and noses. I was stunned and so worried.'
The crash is the second accident in a week involving workers who were on their way to work.
Five lorries were in two separate collisions within seconds of each other along Pioneer Road last Thursday, injuring 53 foreign workers.
Yesterday, the workers were riding in a private 45-seat bus when it collided with a lorry at the intersection of Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3 and Avenue 6.
The driver of the lorry, Mr Tan Boong Tiam, 49, said he was turning right into Avenue 6 when the crash happened.
'In front of me was another car. I saw the arrow then I turned,' he said in Mandarin.
When he saw the oncoming bus, he said he tried to accelerate to get out of the way. He did not make it, but managed to escape unhurt.
Meanwhile, the driver of the bus said he was driving along Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3 and travelling under the speed limit.
'It happened so fast,' said the man, who wanted to be known only as Mr Lim. 'All I could do was slam on my brakes. If I had not steered slightly to the right, I would have been more seriously hurt.'
Many passengers seemed to have cut their faces on the handle bars of the seats, said Mr Lim who was treated for minor injuries.
Witness Diane Goh, 35, was about to cross the junction when she heard a bang. She looked up and saw the crash metres away from her.
The teacher, who is trained in first aid, rushed over to the bus when she saw the shocked and hurt workers trying to get off the vehicle.
'Some were crying and others wanted to vomit. I helped them over to a grass verge,' she said. 'I was upset because there were so many people hurt and they were just metres away from me.'
Mr Samy Velu, 51, rushed to TTSH when his wife's friend called him about the accident.
'At first I panicked. But now that I have seen her, I feel better that it was not a major injury,' he said.
His wife Jothi Samy, 49, had a gash on her cheek.
A Motorola spokesman confirmed that the company's workers were involved and said eight have already been discharged.
The workers were mainly women in their 30s and 40s, said a witness.
Police are investigating.
SERIOUS DAMAGE: The bus carrying Motorola workers slammed into a lorry at the junction of Ave 3 and Ave 6. Looking at the damage is lorry driver Tan Boong Tiam.
TO THE RESCUE: Many of those who were hurt, including Madam Jothi Samy (above), seemed to have smashed their faces on the handle bars of the bus seats.
TO THE RESCUE: Many of those who were hurt seemed to have smashed their faces on the handle bars of the bus seats.
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