Driver sparks chase that ends in crash after evading roadblock

SCDF and police at the scene of the accident (photo) on Tuesday night. The 28-year-old driver put up a struggle and tried to evade arrest. Two police officers were injured in the scuffle. The man was later arrested for drug and traffic offences.PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO
Published 42 min ago
Man drives off at Sembawang roadblock, runs red light and crashes into taxi and van, then assaults police officers
Annabeth Leow
A police roadblock sparked a car chase that ended in a three-vehicle accident on Tuesday night.
Police said in a statement that a 28-year-old man refused to comply with instructions at a roadblock in Sembawang Road, and drove off quickly instead.
One witness, who identified himself as Mr Deng, told Chinese daily Lianhe Wanbao that he saw a black car hurtling down the road and running a red light in Marsiling, with two police motorcycles and a police car in hot pursuit.
The car chase lasted around 10 minutes, through streets in the area and looping around Sembawang MRT station, said Mr Deng.
The chase ended just after 11pm at the junction of Yishun Avenue 5 and Yishun Avenue 2, when the car collided with two other vehicles.
A man identifying himself as Mr Cai told Lianhe Wanbao that he was near Yishun MRT station when he saw the black car crash into a taxi and a van that had stopped at a red light.
Mr Cai added that a police motorcycle also rammed into the passenger side of the car.
DRIVER TRIED TO EVADE ARREST
Following the accident, the male driver put up a violent struggle and assaulted the Traffic Police officers in an attempt to evade arrest.
POLICE said in a statement yesterday, about a driver who failed to stop at a roadblock and sparked a 10-minute car chase.
According to Shin Min Daily News, the driver then struck the officers who attempted to detain him. He is also believed to have kicked over a police motorcycle.
"Following the accident, the male driver put up a violent struggle and assaulted the Traffic Police officers in an attempt to evade arrest," the police said in a statement yesterday.
The driver and two police officers were injured in the scuffle and taken to Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, reported Shin Min Daily News.
According to website Stomp, the Singapore Civil Defence Force dispatched a fire engine, one Red Rhino and two ambulances to the scene of the accident.
The driver was later arrested for traffic and drug offences.
Investigations are under way.
Those convicted of voluntarily causing hurt to public servants face up to seven years' imprisonment, a fine, caning, or any combination of such punishments.
Police reminded members of the public to cooperate with officers during roadblocks, as evading roadblocks puts road users at risk.