SINGAPORE — Four people were taken to hospital after a four-car collision in the Central Expressway (CTE) during Thursday evening’s peak-hour traffic, causing congestion near the Cairnhill Circle exit.
Police said they were alerted to the accident at about 6:50 p.m. on Sept. 17, 2026, after four cars collided in the CTE tunnel near the exit toward Cairnhill Circle.
The injured included three drivers — two men and one woman aged between 43 and 62 — and a 19-year-old female passenger. All four were conscious when they were taken to Singapore General Hospital, according to the police and Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF).
Four Cars Involved in Peak-Hour Crash
The collision happened as Singapore’s evening traffic was building, with the incident occurring in the CTE tunnel toward the Ayer Rajah Expressway (AYE) after Cairnhill Circle.
Images from the scene showed several damaged vehicles inside the tunnel, including a red sports car with significant damage to its front section. Emergency personnel were also seen responding at the location.
The incident prompted traffic warnings as authorities worked at the scene.
The Land Transport Authority (LTA) alerted motorists at around 7 p.m. that there was congestion in the CTE tunnel toward the AYE after Cairnhill Circle, with traffic backed up as far as Moulmein Road.
Motorists were advised to avoid lane three while the accident response was under way.
Two Drivers Assisting With Investigation
Police investigations into the circumstances of the collision are ongoing.
Two drivers involved in the crash — a 39-year-old woman and a 52-year-old man — are assisting police with their investigation.
Authorities have not publicly attributed fault for the collision, and no conclusion about how the crash occurred should be drawn before the investigation is completed.
CTE Remains a Key Singapore Traffic Corridor
The CTE is one of Singapore’s major expressways, connecting northern parts of the island with the city centre and linking with other major routes, including the AYE.
Accidents during peak periods can quickly affect traffic beyond the immediate crash site because of the high volume of vehicles using the corridor.
Thursday’s incident therefore created a significant traffic-management challenge even though the number of people hospitalised was limited to four.
No Fatality Reported in Latest Incident
Unlike some earlier serious CTE accidents this year, no death was reported in this Sept. 17 collision.
In July, a separate pre-dawn CTE crash involving a car and a lorry resulted in the death of a 30-year-old driver, while three other people were taken to hospital.
The latest crash is unrelated to that earlier incident.
For Thursday’s collision, police said investigations remain ongoing, while the four injured people were transported to hospital conscious.
The accident has once again highlighted how quickly a collision inside a major expressway tunnel can disrupt Singapore’s evening traffic — with authorities now working to establish exactly what led to the four-car crash.
