SINGAPORE — Nine people were taken to hospital after a collision involving a car, a lorry and two motorcycles on the Tampines Expressway (TPE) early Wednesday morning (Oct. 7), with one of the motorcycles catching fire after the crash.
The accident happened at about 6.50am on the TPE towards the Pan-Island Expressway (PIE), shortly after the Punggol Road exit, according to the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) and police.
Footage and photographs shared online showed a motorcycle engulfed in flames in front of a white lorry, while debris was scattered across the expressway.
Members of public helped put out motorcycle fire
SCDF said the fire involved a motorcycle. Before emergency responders arrived, members of the public used fire extinguishers to put out the flames.
The crash involved four vehicles — a car, a lorry and two motorcycles.
Nine people were subsequently taken to hospital. They included a 40-year-old male lorry driver, six passengers travelling in the lorry and two male motorcyclists aged 25 and 37. All were conscious when they were taken to hospital, police said.
SCDF transported eight people to Sengkang General Hospital and one person to Changi General Hospital.
Another person was assessed at the scene for minor injuries but declined hospitalisation, SCDF said.
Lorry driver and car driver assisting police
Police said the 40-year-old lorry driver and a 55-year-old male car driver are assisting with investigations.
The identities of the drivers have not been released, and police have not indicated who was responsible for causing the collision.
Investigations are ongoing.
The circumstances leading to the crash, including how the four vehicles collided and what caused the motorcycle to catch fire, have not been publicly established.
Heavy traffic reported after crash
The accident caused significant congestion during the morning peak period.
The Land Transport Authority (LTA) warned motorists at about 7.44am that traffic was heavily congested along the TPE, with queues extending towards Sengkang West Road.
Motorists were advised to avoid lanes one and two while the incident was being dealt with.
Images from the scene showed vehicles slowing down and moving around the affected area as emergency personnel attended to the wreckage.
Motorcycle accidents remain a concern
The crash comes amid a broader increase in traffic accidents involving motorcyclists in Singapore.
Traffic Police data showed that the number of injury-causing traffic accidents rose to 3,869 in the first half of 2026, compared with 3,748 during the same period in 2025.
The number of people injured in traffic accidents also increased from 4,894 to 5,090 over the same period.
Motorcycle-related accidents also increased. There were 2,186 accidents involving motorcyclists in the first half of 2026, compared with 2,096 in the first half of 2025.
The number of injuries involving motorcyclists rose from 2,335 to 2,470. Motorcyclists and pillion riders were involved in more than half of all traffic accidents during the first six months of the year, according to Traffic Police figures reported by The Straits Times.
Investigation continues
The TPE collision serves as another reminder of the risks faced by motorists during busy expressway periods, particularly when multiple vehicles are involved in a crash.
While the motorcycle fire attracted attention because of the flames and thick smoke visible from the roadway, authorities have not reported any fatalities from the incident.
The nine people taken to hospital were conscious at the time they were transported, while another person with minor injuries declined further medical treatment.
Police investigations into the cause of the four-vehicle collision remain ongoing.
