Ayo, if you haven’t seen the news blowing up on TikTok and Facebook yet, let me tell you about one incredibly scary incident that happened right here on our roads. It’s the kind of story that makes you realize how unpredictable life can be, and honestly, it’s just heartbreaking all around.
The Ordinary Commute
It all started on a normal Monday afternoon (July 6). A 36-year-old mother, Winnie Lee, and her 6-year-old son had just touched down at Changi Airport Terminal 1. They hopped into a ComfortDelGro taxi, expecting a routine 20-minute ride back home towards Lavender.
Everything seemed perfectly fine at first. Winnie was just looking at her phone at the back, completely relaxed, until the taxi hit the East Coast Parkway (ECP).
Something Felt Wrong
While cruising down the ECP, Winnie suddenly heard a strange sound—the branches from the bushes along the expressway’s centre divider were brushing heavily against the taxi’s windows.
Kiam siap moment? Not quite. The 73-year-old driver managed to correct the steering wheel quickly, so she didn’t think much of it initially. But when she glanced up at the rearview mirror, she noticed the uncle yawning and looking dangerously sleepy.
Being a concerned passenger, Winnie tried chatting with him to keep him awake and check if he was okay. But as the car kept veering, she realized it was getting too dangerous and asked him to please pull over and stop.
The uncle sounded completely dazed and confused. He muttered his last words to her: “Where do I stop?”
Right after that, he completely blacked out. Unresponsive. Lost consciousness. And the worst part? The taxi was still moving.
Absolute Panic & Pure Quick Thinking
Can you imagine the sheer terror? You’re stuck in the backseat of a moving vehicle on a fast highway with your 6-year-old child, and the driver has passed out at the wheel. Winnie admitted she went straight into panic mode and even considered jumping out of the car.
But extreme situations call for extreme survival instincts.
Instead of jumping, she did something incredibly brave. She forced open the right-side passenger door and literally pushed it hard against the metal road barrier. She used the door to create friction against the guardrail, forcing the moving taxi to slowly, gradually drag itself to a halt.
Heng (luckily), another alert driver behind them saw the taxi swerving dangerously. He kept his distance, followed them, and immediately stopped his car to help Winnie and her son escape the vehicle safely once it came to a stop.
Sharing from Winnie on Tik Tok:
A Tragic Ending
The police and SCDF were alerted to the scene around 12:50 PM, and the poor taxi uncle was rushed unconscious to Tan Tock Seng Hospital.
Everyone was hoping he would pull through, but unfortunately, the police later confirmed the tragic news: the 73-year-old driver passed away in the hospital.
Final Thoughts
While we are incredibly thankful that Winnie and her son managed to escape unharmed thanks to her insanely quick reflexes, it’s just so sad to hear about the uncle. It really reminds us to appreciate every day, because you never know what can happen in a split second.
Our deepest condolences go out to the taxi driver’s family during this tough time. Rest in peace, uncle.
What would you have done if you were in that backseat? Let me know in the comments.
Kopi Kaki SG 
Leave a comment