Yio Chu Kang MRT Station - Track Incursion

Track Incursion

On 3 March 2003, a 23-year old drove his Mercedes onto an MRT track off Lentor Avenue, in the sector between Yio Chu Kang and Khatib stations, the first accident of its kind in the 15 years of MRT operations in Singapore. The accident occurred when the car, which was travelling at 87 kilometres per hour (54 mph) along Lentor Avenue - the speed limit was 70 kilometres per hour (43 mph) - mounted an 18 centimetres (7.1 in) kerb, crossed 6 metres (20 ft) of grass verge (inclusive of a 1.5 metres (4 ft 11 in) wide pavement), jumped over a 1.5 metres (4 ft 11 in) drain, went through a fence 2 metres (6 ft 7 in) away from the track, and went uphill onto a steep stone embankment before landing on the track.

Witnesses tried to remove the car from the tracks to prevent a possible collision, however an oncoming train from Yio Chu Kang stopped their efforts. One of the witnesses signalled the train driver to stop. Although the train driver was not able to stop in time, he was able to slow the train down enough to prevent derailment.