A 73-year-old woman died on Nov 2 after she was hit by an SMRT bus along South Bridge Road in Chinatown, according to the Singapore Police Force and the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF).
Accident Details Along South Bridge Road
The emergency services received alerts regarding the pedestrian accident at approximately 11.40am. The incident occurred on South Bridge Road heading towards Tanjong Pagar. Footage posted on TikTok by user @wesleywes615 captured the aftermath of the crash, showing the SMRT bus with a badly cracked windscreen and a damaged front bumper, alongside a dislodged bumper as noted in parallel reports from Must Share News and AsiaOne.
Paramedics from the SCDF attended to the elderly woman at the scene, where an SCDF personnel performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). According to accounts from Must Share News and AsiaOne, individuals from a nearby clinic also stepped in to assist the injured pedestrian before she was wheeled into an ambulance. She was rushed to the Singapore General Hospital in an unconscious state and subsequently passed away from her injuries.
Driver assists police after fatal pedestrian strike
A 41-year-old male bus driver is currently assisting the police with ongoing investigations into the fatal collision. SMRT Buses deputy managing director Vincent Gay stated that bus service 61 was traveling along South Bridge Road when it struck the pedestrian, who was crossing between vehicles. Gay confirmed that no other passengers or individuals reported injuries during the incident.
We are deeply saddened by the pedestrian’s death and extend our heartfelt condolences to the family,
Gay said, adding that the operator’s care team reached out to the next of kin to offer assistance and support. All remaining passengers aboard the bus were safely transferred to another vehicle to continue their travel.
Did You Know? According to mid-year road traffic statistics released by the Traffic Police on Aug 28, overall traffic fatalities fell from 79 in the first half of 2025 to 61 in the first half of 2026, and fatal accidents dropped from 78 to 60.
Broader Statistics on Elderly Pedestrian Accidents
Despite the overall decline in traffic fatalities across Singapore, data released by the Traffic Police on Aug 28 highlights a concerning rise in accidents involving elderly pedestrians. Cases involving older pedestrians increased from 121 in the first six months of 2025 to 144 cases during the same period in 2026.
The number of injured elderly pedestrians rose from 106 to 132 over that same timeframe. These figures show ongoing safety concerns for older road users even as national traffic accident totals trend downward.
Expert Insight: The juxtaposition of declining overall traffic fatalities with a rise in elderly pedestrian casualties points to a specific demographic vulnerability on urban roadways.
Answers about the South Bridge Road fatal collision
When did the Chinatown bus accident occur?
The accident took place on Nov 2 at approximately 11.40am along South Bridge Road towards Tanjong Pagar.
Which bus operator and service were involved?
The vehicle involved was an SMRT bus operating on Service 61, carrying passengers who were later safely transferred to another bus.
What are the current police actions regarding the driver?
A 41-year-old male bus driver is assisting the Singapore Police Force with ongoing investigations into the fatal collision.
How might transport authorities and operators address the rising trend of elderly pedestrian accidents following this incident?
Worth a look