Granny dragged 20m under taxi

In a horrific accident that has left his entire family shaken, Mr Li Wei's grandmother and youngest brother were struck by a taxi on Friday evening.

The 18-year-old Ngee Ann Polytechnic student told The New Paper on Sunday that he received a frantic call from his mother while he was on a bus and on his way home from school.

He said: "I was very shocked. When I rushed to the junction where the accident happened, they had already been taken to the hospital."

Police and Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) were alerted to the accident near Block 265, Toh Guan Road at about 7.50pm. SCDF said both victims were taken conscious to National University Hospital.

Mr Li Wei said his grandmother, Madam Liang Lan Zhen, 65, was still in the intensive care unit as of last weekend.

He said: "She has some injuries to her chest area and needed a respirator to help her breathe. She also might need to have a leg amputated."

His youngest brother, Li Zheng, eight, suffered minor abrasions and has a "bump on the head", he said.

A 63-year-old retiree, who gave her name as Madam Lai, said in Mandarin: "I've told her before, to buy them at the nearby grocery shop, but she'd reply that the items are much cheaper at IMM."

Shin Min Daily News reported that Madam Liang's second grandson, Li Cheng, 10, had been on his bicycle trying to catch up with the pair, who had left earlier to shop for groceries at IMM.

He suddenly spotted his younger brother's slippers on the road. He reached the junction only to see his brother lying injured on the ground.

His grandmother was nowhere to be seen initially, until the young boy spotted her pinned under the taxi.

Dragged 20m

According to the Shin Min report, she had been dragged 20m. Several passers-by came to her aid and managed to heave the taxi off and free her.

She was conscious, and despite her great pain, she was asking about her grandson, said the report.

A witness told the Chinese daily that Li Cheng had burst into tears. He told Li Cheng to stay with his injured brother while awaiting help.

The family is frugal. The mother, Madam Liu Xiao Hui, 42 is a permanent resident here. The father, a Singaporean, is currently in China on business.

Madam Liu works as a clerk at Pasir Panjang Wholesale Centre. Her mother shuttles to and from China to help out with taking care of the children.

The old lady sometimes scavenges cardboard boxes to supplement the family's income, says Madam Lai.

Occasionally, she also takes on vegetable packing duties at the Pasir Panjang Wholesale Centre.

On most of the days when she works at the wholesale centre, she would bring back baskets of vegetables which were not sold.

The kind-hearted Madam Liang would often share vegetables with her neighbours.

Said Madam Lai: "The afternoon before the accident, she came back with chye sim, given to her by her employer. She gave me a big bundle of it too. She'd say that it'd be too much for them to finish so she'd share with us neighbours."

Police have arrested the taxi driver. Investigations are ongoing.