Technician hit by LRT train

[tankuku]

Oct 28, 2010
Technician hit by LRT train

By Mavis Toh

A worker heads down the empty LRT track near Ten Mile Junction. -- ST PHOTO: CAROLINE CHIA

AN INVESTIGATION into how and why a technician who was carrying out maintenance works on the tracks of a Light Rapid Transit station was hit by a train, is underway. Mr Chia Teck Heng was on the tracks of Ten Mile Junction LRT station doing some maintenance works, when he was hit by an oncoming train last Sunday. The impact of the crash left him with head and leg injuries, and also resulted in his right leg being amputated.

Train operator SMRT said investigations on the incident are ongoing. The Straits Times understands that part of the investigations include whether any safety rules were flouted, resulting in the accident. SMRT said it has in place strict regulations for granting staff access to the tracks to do any kind of works.

 

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Injured LRT technician dies


Oct 31, 2010
Injured LRT technician dies

By Kon Xin Hua

THE Light Rapid Transit (LRT) technician who had head injuries and needed a leg amputation as a result of a train accident while attending to an electrical fault, died last Friday. Mr Chia Teck Heng, 48, was at a designated walkway, checking the power rail between Phoenix and Bukit Panjang stations, when an oncoming train hit him at Phoenix station at about 8am on Oct 17.

The 1.5m wide walkway runs throughout the LRT system, between the two rail tracks, and has yellow demarcation lines on both sides. The Sunday Times understands that train operator SMRT has strict regulations on staff access when they go onto the tracks. Its operation control centre approves every access, which is closely monitored.

Details are as yet unclear as to the cause of death and investigations are ongoing. Mr Chia had severe injuries to his head and legs. His right leg was amputated. He was warded at the National University Hospital's surgical intensive care unit. But his condition worsened, and he died at about 5.45pm last Friday without emerging from a coma.