Taxi driver dies in freak accident while helping passengers unload luggage

A taxi driver died in a freak accident after he was pinned between the door and door frame of his cab.

Cabby Tee Chin Teong, 66, had been getting out of his taxi to help his passengers unload their luggage when the vehicle began moving forward and collided with a lorry parked by the roadside, reported Shin Min Daily News.

A coroner's inquiry into Tee's death was opened on Thursday (Sept 24). His wife, son, and daughter attended the inquiry.

The court heard from a traffic police investigation officer that the incident was reported at 12.50am on Feb 24, 2025, along Jalan Besar Road.

Tee had picked up two passengers from Changi Airport and drove them to their residence, which was near The Noble Hotel, according to Shin Min.

An employee of the hotel reportedly saw the taxi stop outside the hotel and two passengers alight.

According to the staff member, Tee had opened the driver's door and placed his right foot on the road when the vehicle began to move forward.

The door collided into the left rear side of a lorry parked in front.

The employee reportedly said Tee's head and upper body became trapped between the door and the door frame of the taxi, which continued to move forward.

His passenger, upon seeing what had happened, rushed over to help. He reached into the vehicle and shifted the taxi's gear from drive to park, bringing the taxi to a stop.

Paramedics found Tee trapped between the car door and frame when they reached the scene. The collision had reportedly forced the door inwards.

The autopsy report determined that the cause of death was primarily traumatic asphyxia and severe facial injuries, according to the Chinese publication.

An investigating officer from the Ministry of Manpower told the court that the deceased had 12 years of experience as a taxi driver and had held his driver's license for 42 years.

He believed that Tee had forgotten to shift gears as he was hurrying to help passengers with their luggage, reported Shin Min.

He added that Tee had only been working for an hour at the time of the incident, so he believed the accident was not caused by overwork.

The coroner will record findings at a later date.

lim.kewei@asiaone.com

一名出租车司机在一次离奇的事故中丧生，他被夹在出租车的车门和车门框之间。

据《新明日报》报道，66岁的出租车司机郑振东（音译）下车帮助乘客卸行李时，车辆突然向前行驶，与停在路边的一辆卡车相撞。

周四（9月24日），验尸官对Tee的死因展开了调查。他的妻子、儿子和女儿都出席了调查。

法庭听取了一名交通警察调查员的证词，称该事件于 2025 年 2 月 24 日凌晨 12 点 50 分在惹兰勿刹路被报告。

据《新明日报》报道，Tee 从樟宜机场接了两名乘客，并将他们送到了位于诺贝尔酒店附近的住所。

据报道，酒店的一名员工看到出租车停在酒店外，两名乘客下了车。

据工作人员称，Tee打开了驾驶座车门，并将右脚放在路上，这时车辆开始向前行驶。

车门撞上了停在前面的一辆卡车的左后侧。

据报道，该员工称 Tee 的头部和上半身被卡在出租车的车门和门框之间，出租车继续向前行驶。

他的乘客看到情况后，立即跑过去帮忙。他伸手进车里，把出租车的档位从行驶档换到停车档，把出租车停了下来。

医护人员赶到现场时，发现Tee被困在车门和车框之间。据报道，碰撞导致车门向内变形。

据中国媒体报道，尸检报告确定死因主要是创伤性窒息和严重的面部损伤。

人力部的一名调查人员告诉法庭，死者有 12 年的出租车司机经验，持有驾驶执照 42 年。

据《新明日报》报道，他认为 Tee 因为急于帮乘客搬运行李而忘记换挡。

他还补充说，事发时 Tee 只工作了一个小时，所以他认为事故并非由过度劳累引起。

验尸官将在稍后日期记录调查结果。

lim.kewei@asiaone.com