Car crashes into Chinatown tailor shop; one man sent to hospital for minor injuries

One man was sent to hospital after an accident in Chinatown on Friday night (14 September) in which a car ploughed into a tailor shop after being hit by another vehicle, causing thousands of dollars in damage to the shop.

Police said they were alerted to the accident on South Bridge Road at about 9pm. One of the drivers, a 47-year-old man driving a Toyota, suffered minor injuries and was sent to Singapore General Hospital.

Yahoo News Singapore understands that a grey Honda Stream had turned from Temple Street into South Bridge Road when the Toyota, travelling along South Bridge Road, hit the vehicle from behind. The driver of the Honda lost control of the car and ploughed head-on into the shopfront of Happy Harry’s Tailors, which was closed at the time of the accident.

When Yahoo News Singapore arrived at the scene of the accident at 11pm, police had set up a cordon around the shop on the road and the Honda was still on the walkway outside the shop, with its bonnet inside the shop. The iron gate of the shop was badly dented by the impact of the collision. The car was later towed away.

The shop owner, 53-year-old tailor Harry Ramchand, went back to his shop with his wife and son-in-law after being informed by a neighbouring shop that the accident had occurred. He said that replacing his damaged gate would cost him more than $2,000.

Ramchand’s wife, who wanted to be known only as Rekha, said a desktop computer and laptop on a table inside the shop had also fallen onto the floor during the accident.

Ramchand and Rekha said it was common for accidents to occur at the location, but this was the first time a vehicle had crashed into a shop.

Yahoo News Singapore approached the driver of the Honda, who did not appear to be injured, but he did not wish to speak to the media.

Police did not make any arrests and investigations are ongoing.