A truck driver was arrested after the crane mounted on his vehicle crashed into a footbridge on Balestier Road yesterday.
Part of the crane was damaged and fell on the road, blocking all three lanes.
The state traffic authority (LTA), which said the crane was not fully retracted, diverted all affected bus routes and closed the pedestrian bridge for inspection.
The 37-year-old man was driving towards Lavender Road at 10:30 a.m. when the accident occurred. It resulted in the road being closed for four hours, which resulted in significant traffic disruption.
Police said the heavy vehicle was more than 4.5 meters tall at the time of the accident and was traveling unaccompanied, which is illegal in Singapore.
The truck belonged to Gim Sen Transportation Services. A company executive, who refused to be named, told the Straits Times that he was not sure what went wrong and was trying to help the employee.
He said the driver had been with the company for three months but had been driving in Singapore for many years.
The Singapore Civil Defense Force said one person suffered minor injuries and refused to be rushed to the hospital without indicating if it was the driver.
LTA said there is some local damage to the concrete surface of the pedestrian bridge but that its structural integrity has not been compromised.
The bridge will remain closed to the public until the necessary renovation work has been completed.
In a statement, LTA said strict action will be taken if investigations determine a breach of safety regulations.
“We would like to remind drivers of heavy vehicles to pay attention to overhead constructions and to ensure that construction equipment they are carrying is carefully stowed before the journey,” it said.
The police investigation continues.
The Balestier Road was opened to traffic again at 2.10 p.m.
