Potholes. Small and shallow ones may not be much to car drivers, but they can be dangerous to those on motorcycles or e-bikes.

Kind of like how a small rock can make you trip and leave you with nasty abrasions.

A food delivery driver was flung 10m after his Power-Assisted Bicycle (PAB) hit a pothole in Bukit Batok, and was left with something worse than just an abrasion.

Rider Encountered a Pothole

Last Thursday (25 January), at about 7pm, a 30-year-old male was riding his PAB when he encountered a pothole on the road in front of Block 254, Bukit Batok East Avenue 4. 

Due to prior rain, the pothole was filled with water. 

Because of this, and dim lighting, spotting the pothole was challenging.

The delivery rider, known as Mr Zhang (transliterated from Mandarin), was riding at a speed of 25 to 30 kilometres an hour.

He didn’t notice the pothole, and was flung off his e-bike when he entered it. 

He slid for a few metres, hit his head, and almost lost consciousness.

The car behind him managed to brake in time, avoiding hitting Mr Zhang. The driver stepped out to help.

The Accident Left Him With a Fractured Wrist, Surgery Needed

After a moment’s rest, Mr Zhang contacted his friends and family, who brought him to Ng Feng Tong Hospital.

Mr Zhang was found to have a fractured and displaced left wrist, requiring him to spend the night in the hospital. He is scheduled to undergo surgery in two weeks.

He added that his insurance only covers hospitalisation and not medical consultation.

Doctors advised two months of rest, causing a loss of income for Mr Zhang, given his job as a food delivery rider. 

This incident was not his first encounter with potholes. 

Mr Zhang revealed that two years ago, he drove into a pothole while turning in Jurong. He instantly lost balance and sustained injuries to his left elbow.

Due to both incidents, the doctor said that he might need to install screws in his arm.

Scheduled to get married in May, with a pre-wedding photoshoot in April, Mr Zhang hopes to recover in time to avoid delays.

When Shin Min visited the site on 26 January (Saturday), the pothole was about 30 centimetres wide and 5 centimetres deep.

As it was located right in front of the bus stop of Block 254 HDB, some buses would swerve in order to avoid the pothole, causing vibrations or loud noises. 

A 66-year-old resident mentioned to Shin Min that the pothole had been there for about a week, and that it had been getting bigger. 

He mentioned that when it rains heavily, potholes would get covered by rainwater, making it challenging for motorists to spot them. He added that he has witnessed cars drive into it.