A community first responder has earned praise in Singapore after stopping at a Central Expressway (CTE) accident to help an injured motorcyclist, staying beside him until paramedics arrived and even contacting his employer to explain why he could not report for work.
The incident happened at approximately 7.45am on Tuesday, November 10, along the CTE towards the Ayer Rajah Expressway (AYE), before the Ang Mo Kio Avenue 5 exit.
The accident involved a car and a motorcycle. While other motorists continued along the busy expressway, Alex Tho, a trained community first responder who happened to be driving past, decided to stop and assist the injured rider.
The Marsiling Community Emergency and Engagement Committee (C2E), which shared the incident on its Facebook page, praised Tho for putting his first-aid training into action and showing compassion beyond the immediate emergency.
The injured motorcyclist, a 37-year-old man, was taken conscious to Tan Tock Seng Hospital. A 35-year-old male car driver is assisting police with investigations.
First Responder Assesses Injuries and Helps Keep Rider Still
According to Marsiling Bravehearts, Tho used his first-aid knowledge to assess the motorcyclist while waiting for an ambulance.
The rider complained of severe pain in his left shoulder, left hip and left lower leg. Although there was no obvious external bleeding, his left shoulder appeared deformed, raising concerns about a possible dislocation or fracture.
These were observations made at the scene, not a confirmed medical diagnosis.
Recognising the possibility of serious injuries, Tho stayed beside the motorcyclist and helped him avoid unnecessary movement while waiting for the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) paramedics.
Keeping an injured person as still as reasonably possible can be important when a serious injury is suspected, particularly when movement could worsen the condition.
Photographs shared by Marsiling Bravehearts showed Tho in a pink shirt speaking with emergency personnel after they arrived, helping to pass on information about the rider’s condition.
A Small Act of Kindness Made a Difficult Situation Easier
Perhaps the most touching part of the incident happened after the rider realised he would not be able to report for work.
Despite being injured and waiting for medical assistance, he was worried about informing his employer that he could not make it to work.
Tho noticed his concern and offered to contact the employer on his behalf.
That simple gesture helped address an immediate worry while the motorcyclist focused on receiving medical attention.
Marsiling C2E highlighted this action as an example of what community first response should represent.
Its message was that emergency assistance is not only about knowing CPR, using an automated external defibrillator (AED) or administering first aid. It is also about having the courage to stop, the willingness to help and the compassion to support someone during a frightening moment.
Police Confirm Rider Was Taken to Hospital Conscious
In response to media queries, the Singapore Police Force and SCDF confirmed that they were alerted to the accident at about 7.45am on November 10.
The collision involved a car and a motorcycle travelling along the CTE towards the AYE.
The 37-year-old male motorcyclist was taken conscious to Tan Tock Seng Hospital.
The 35-year-old male car driver is assisting police with investigations.
Authorities have not publicly established who was responsible for the collision or released a final account of how it happened. Investigations remain ongoing.
Marsiling Volunteers Have Helped Other Injured Motorcyclists
This is not the first time volunteers from Marsiling have received recognition for helping injured motorcyclists.
In July 2026, two Marsiling volunteers, Alex and Neil, assisted a motorcyclist following a separate accident along the Pan-Island Expressway (PIE).
The pair had completed their National Day Parade duties when they came across the crash. Alex assessed the injured rider, while Neil helped overcome a language barrier and communicate with him.
They remained with the motorcyclist until emergency responders arrived.
The rider, a 32-year-old man, was taken conscious to Ng Teng Fong Hospital and was assisting with investigations.
The earlier incident was reported by WWC ONE MEDIA in Marsiling Volunteers Praised for Helping Injured Motorcyclist After PIE Crash.
The two incidents demonstrate how trained community volunteers can make a difference when they happen to be near an emergency.
Singapore’s Community First Responders Play an Important Role
Singapore’s community emergency response network is designed to help people receive assistance before professional emergency crews arrive.
The Community Emergency and Engagement Committees, or C2E groups, operate through the People’s Association and help strengthen emergency preparedness within neighbourhoods.
Their activities include community education, emergency exercises and coordination of volunteers during incidents.
Within these networks, Community Emergency Response Teams (CERTs) include volunteers trained in basic first aid, crowd management, evacuation and firefighting.
The SCDF also encourages members of the public to participate through its myResponder app, which can alert registered volunteers to nearby medical emergencies and fires.
According to SCDF, community first responders can help by performing CPR, locating and applying an AED, assisting with minor fire incidents and guiding emergency crews to the scene.
The app also allows users to share their location with the SCDF’s 995 operations centre when calling for emergency assistance.
The SCDF stresses that participation is voluntary and that people should respond only when they can do so safely.
Other Singapore Road Incidents Highlight the Value of Stopping to Help
The CTE incident also recalls other cases in which motorists have stepped forward to assist people facing danger on Singapore’s roads.
In September, a driver spotted an elderly man walking dangerously close to fast-moving traffic along the AYE and turned around to check on him. The motorist’s decision attracted public praise after dashcam footage circulated online.
WWC ONE MEDIA reported the incident in Driver Spots Elderly Man Walking on Singapore’s AYE and Makes a Split-Second Decision to Get Him to Safety.
Road accidents themselves remain a serious concern. In September, four people were taken to hospital after a four-car collision in the CTE tunnel during evening peak-hour traffic.
That separate incident was covered in Four Hospitalised After Four-Car Crash in Singapore’s CTE Tunnel During Evening Peak.
Another incident in November saw a 64-year-old driver hospitalised after his car overturned on the PIE towards Tuas, causing traffic congestion near the Stevens Road exit.
Read more: 64-Year-Old Driver Hospitalised After Car Flips on Singapore’s PIE.
These are separate incidents with different circumstances, but they underline the importance of road awareness, timely emergency assistance and the role ordinary members of the public can play when someone needs help.
Why Community First Aid Training Matters
The CTE accident shows how first-aid training can become valuable in an unexpected situation.
A person who knows how to assess an injured casualty, recognise warning signs and communicate with emergency responders can help bridge the gap before professional medical assistance arrives.
However, members of the public should not put themselves in danger by stopping in unsafe locations or attempting medical procedures beyond their training.
Motorists who encounter an accident should prioritise their own safety, contact emergency services and follow instructions from trained responders.
For those interested in becoming community first responders, the SCDF’s myResponder programme offers a way to learn about volunteering and responding to nearby emergencies.
More Than First Aid, It Was a Moment of Humanity
The injured motorcyclist on the CTE was facing more than physical pain. He was also worried about work, his responsibilities and what would happen after the accident.
Alex Tho’s decision to stay beside him and help contact his employer addressed a concern that might otherwise have added to the rider’s distress.
The crash is still under police investigation, and authorities have not announced who was responsible.
But the response from the community first responder has already earned recognition.
On a busy expressway where motorists are often focused on reaching their destinations, one driver chose to stop, help a stranger and remain with him until professional assistance arrived.
Sometimes, the most meaningful difference in an emergency begins with one person deciding not to drive past.
