SINGAPORE - A 66-year-old man sneezed and lost control of his car, crashing into a road divider in Lorong 1 Toa Payoh on Thursday afternoon (April 19).

The impact dislodged a lamp post, causing it to nearly topple over. Debris from the car was strewn over two lanes of the road.

Mr Abdul Rahman Hassan, who is unemployed, told The Straits Times that he was on his way to pick up his three-year-old granddaughter from kindergarten in Upper Thomson Road when the accident occurred near Braddell MRT station at around 12.40pm.

In response to queries from ST, the police said it was alerted to an accident involving a car in Lorong 1 Toa Payoh, in the direction of Lorong 6 Toa Payoh.

Mr Abdul Rahman's blue Subaru Impreza was badly damaged, but he was not injured. No other cars were involved.

He said: "I had a loud sneeze and then I realised I hit the divider and lamp post. I was not scared. Accidents can happen.

"Anyway, my car needs to be scrapped next year. If I can't repair it, I will just scrap it."

Car crash outside Braddell MRT station along Lorong 1 Toa Payoh

A cobbler in his 60s, who wanted to be known only as Mr Yong, said he heard a loud screech followed by a bang.

"I didn't see the collision, but I was shocked by the crash, as it was very loud. Many people were curious and went to take a look."

Sales executive Muhammad Hafiz Khamzah, 21, was making a U-turn at the road junction when he heard a loud crash.

"It was so scary when I heard the crash. My heart stopped, but luckily the uncle is okay," he said.

Aftermath of accident along Lorong 1 Toa Payoh

After a brief downpour, workers arrived at the scene with a crane at about 1.45pm and prepared to dismantle and replace the damaged lamp post.

The lamp post was hoisted and removed from the site at about 2.10pm, with the process lasting about 20 minutes. The crane left soon after.

By around 4pm, tow services arrived to move the car and remove debris from the road. SCDF officers were also spotted washing the road.

A supervisor told ST that installing a new lamp post should take around four hours.

Police investigations are ongoing.

Additional reporting by Alvin Ho