While driving along Stadium Drive yesterday morning, a chaotic scene unfolded in front of William Lee — a van had crashed into a tree so hard that it felled huge branches on the road.
Checking up on the condition of the van driver, Lee was assured that he was fine. According to his account, however, the van started smoking, and the driver was trapped by branches pressing on his door.
Help was needed, and help arrived in the form of a mob of passing motorists who came together and mobilized a prompt rescue operation. Lee and a few other folks helped direct traffic away from the accident; his wife called for an ambulance; others helped move the fallen branches aside.
The fact that the accident transpired near the Sports Hub also meant that a stream of highly athletic people were available to render assistance. One of whom was Jana Lauren — the one in red — a former discus thrower who’d been coaching at a practice track nearby. One of her athletes and another coach came to help as well, according to The Straits Times.
The German wife of 10-time SEA Games discus champ James Wong had fallen down while attempting to move the branches — you can see the part where she fell down. She’s fine now, according to Wong.
Thanks to their efforts, the van driver managed to exit the vehicle. An ambulance arrived soon after to help treat the man who’d sustained minor injuries in the accident, but he refused to be conveyed to the hospital.
