Singapore – Any motorist would know that when on the road, one must stay vigilant at all times because an accident can occur from any directions. In this case, it was from above when a piece of concrete rock fell on a moving vehicle’s windshield causing it to shatter.
Nick was driving along Bukit Timah Expressway (BKE) towards Woodlands on December 31 and as he passed through Rifle Range Flyover, he hears a crashing sound. At first, he thought his engine had exploded but right in front of him, he sees his windshield completely cracked. Beside him was his six months pregnant wife who was equally shocked. Thankfully, she was not hurt.
Nick initially stopped on the side of the road but because of the adverse weather, he eventually changed th location to the Eco-Link at BKE Bridge in order to call their insurance company. Once at the carpark, Nick got to fully inspect what happened during their life-threatening encounter.
What he found was a huge piece of concrete rock behind the driver’s seat. A rock that was twice the size of his hand. Upon checking his camera, it would seem that it was near the flyover when the rock was seen hurling down towards their car. He suspects that it could be from a heavy vehicle transporting construction debris.
Fortunately, it was his steering wheel that took the full force of the impact leaving it completely bent inwards. Nick cannot even imagine the effect if his hand was at that spot when the rock came through the windshield or if its trajectory was a little bit more to the left and was headed in the direction where his wife was seated.
Nick says that “ANYONE could have been injured badly that day, if a motorcyclist were to be hit by it, the consequences would be unimaginable.” He also encourages authorities to increase safety measures, especially at flyovers.
Watch the video here:
Falling rock smashes thru windscreen
"Location at BKE, towards Woodlands, big piece of concrete rock flew down from Rifle Range Road Flyover. Suspected a loose rock came off a heavy vehicle transporting construction debris came hurtling down.It struck through my windscreen with such force that it bent my top of the steering wheel inwards, causing its trajectory to be altered a bit to fly into my rear seat and landed onto the floor area behind my driver's seat. I was shocked to have found the rock at that size when i was inspecting my vehicle's interior.I could have had my head or chest smashed in with such force, or my pregnant wife could have had a similar or worse injury if the trajectory was to the left. Steering wheel bore the brunt of the force. ANYONE could have been injured badly that day, if a motorcyclist were to be hit by it, the consequences would be unimaginable. I would like to highlight this to the relevant authorities and the general public if more safety measures could be in place especially at flyovers. Anyone could have been standing above and creating mischief by throwing things down onto the expressways. And lives could have been lost. This time we have not lost our lives, but I do not think it would be wise for someone's life to be the price for prompt safety actions/measures.I will be sending this to the relevant authorities for advice."Happened on 31/12/2018 @ approximately 2.30pm. Location along BKE towards Woodlands under the Rifle Range Road Flyover.Credit: Nicholas Sim
Posted by ROADS.sg on Tuesday, 1 January 2019
His video footage will be sent to relevant authorities for further advice.
Netizens are debating if the rock was indeed from a moving truck or if it came from a mischievous human located at the top of the flyover because the rock looks like it was thrown upward.
Alex Carrausse also observes that there was another car stopped at the side of the road and could have also been a victim of flying debris.
A similar incident also occurred along Ayer Rajah Expressway (AYE) last year June. Read about the details below.
https://theindependent.sg.sg/rocks-thrown-down-from-flyover-along-aye-on-three-different-occasions-completely-cracking-windshield/?fbclid=IwAR1yrX5QLWpS9tisBv-r5WLG1C4Lg22zNqObjYkYxdilr8Mu6WEgnkstOSg