Five passengers suffered injuries when a chain collision involving three public buses occurred at Block 790 Yishun Avenue 2 on 15 October at approximately 3.05pm, according to reporting by The Straits Times. A Tower Transit Service 853 bus rear-ended an SBS Transit Service 852 bus, which then collided with an SBS Transit Service 851 bus. The Yishun chain collision sent three people to hospital and left two more with minor injuries.
Who was hurt in the Yishun chain collision?
Three passengers were taken to Khoo Teck Puat Hospital after the Yishun chain collision: a 75-year-old male passenger and two female passengers aged 48 and 52. A 35-year-old bus driver from Tower Transit is assisting police with investigations. Two additional passengers on Service 852 were assessed for minor injuries but declined hospital treatment. All five injured people were passengers on the SBS Transit Service 852 bus that was rear-ended.
SBS Transit’s spokesperson Grace Wu stated that the company had spoken to two of the hospitalised passengers and was still attempting to reach the third to offer assistance. Neither the drivers of the two SBS Transit buses involved nor any passengers on Service 851 reported injuries.
If you were on either of these buses but not injured, passengers were transferred to other buses to complete their journeys. Tower Transit has set up a dedicated contact line for affected passengers: 1800 248 0950 or feedback@towertransit.sg. The company and SBS Transit are cooperating with traffic police, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and each other on the ongoing investigation.
Getting around Singapore? Find any station on the interactive MRT map, or save the PDF map to use offline.
How does the Yishun chain collision affect your commute?
The incident occurred in the afternoon during a moderately busy time for Yishun’s road network. Commuters in the area who normally use Services 851, 852 or 853 should expect potential service disruptions as investigations continue and vehicles undergo damage assessment.
Yishun residents who rely on public transport have good alternatives. Yishun MRT station (NS13) sits on the North South Line (NSL), serving the red line that runs from Jurong East to Marina South Pier. If you need to reach central areas, Yishun station connects to the entire 27-station North South Line network operated by SMRT, offering direct access to key zones like the CBD, Orchard and Marina Bay without a transfer.
For riders heading to the east or northeast of Singapore, the North East Line (NEL) at nearby stations provides access to Punggol Coast, Sengkang and other eastern neighbourhoods. The purple North East Line, driverless and operated by SBS Transit, opened its newest station at Punggol Coast on 10 December 2024 and serves 17 stations total.
What happened with the three buses in the Yishun incident?
The Yishun chain collision unfolded in sequence: Tower Transit’s Service 853 rear-ended the SBS Transit Service 852 bus, and the force of that collision pushed Service 852 into SBS Transit’s Service 851 bus. One of the SBS Transit buses mounted the kerb during the impact. All three services operate in the Yishun area but are managed by different operators, which is why both Tower Transit and SBS Transit have been coordinating with LTA and police on the investigation.
Initial reports from Tower Transit mentioned six people injured, but the official figure was clarified as five passengers who sustained injuries. The discrepancy likely arose because some individuals were initially assessed and then later classified differently based on injury severity. Tower Transit apologised for the distress caused to passengers and other road users, emphasising that it is working with authorities to determine the cause.
Safety aboard Singapore’s buses and alternatives for Yishun commuters
The Yishun chain collision is a sobering reminder of the importance of seated and standing stability on buses. Grab handles and handrails are provided throughout bus cabins to prevent falls during sudden stops or collisions. During peak hours, buses are more crowded, increasing the risk of injury in an accident. Off-peak travel reduces this exposure, though it is not always practical for commuters with fixed schedules.
For Yishun residents seeking maximum safety and predictability, the MRT offers a controlled environment with no risk of rear-end collisions or vehicle-to-vehicle impacts. Trains on the North South Line begin running around 5.16am on weekdays and 15 to 30 minutes later on Sundays, with the last full-length service departing around 11.18pm, providing reliable first-train and last-train windows.
Commuters with a choice should consider using the MRT for longer trips and buses for short local hops. Payment on both buses and trains is by contactless bank card or mobile wallet (SimplyGo), or an EZ-Link/SimplyGo card, so switching between modes does not require a different ticketing system.
Bus operator safety has improved significantly over the years through driver training, vehicle maintenance and fleet modernisation. However, incidents like the Yishun chain collision remind us that no mode is entirely risk-free. The presence of professional emergency response from the Singapore Civil Defence Force demonstrates Singapore’s strong emergency protocols, and all three injured passengers who went to hospital were treated promptly, indicating rapid and effective care.
What to do if you are involved in a transport incident
If you are injured on a bus or train in Singapore, alert the driver or staff immediately and follow their instructions. For bus incidents, the operator will arrange medical help. Keep your SimplyGo card or ticket as proof of your journey, and note the time, route and any witnesses. Contact the operator’s passenger care line (Tower Transit: 1800 248 0950; SBS Transit via their website) to report injuries and request support. Police will likely conduct their own investigation into traffic collisions, and you may be asked to provide a statement.
Documentation is important for insurance or compensation claims. Take photos if safely possible and collect contact details from other passengers or witnesses. The Land Transport Authority and both operators maintain strict safety and incident reporting standards, so your report will be taken seriously and may inform future safety improvements.
Before your next journey through Yishun or anywhere else in Singapore, familiarise yourself with your route options across all six MRT lines and three LRT systems. Whether you choose the MRT’s reliability or a bus route’s convenience, knowing your alternatives helps you travel with confidence and adapt quickly if disruptions occur.