Woman crashes Mazda into overhead bridge -- after seeing cockroach in her car

A 61-year-old woman was so shocked after finding a cockroach in her car that she crashed her vehicle into the staircase of an overhead bridge.

The accident happened on Friday (Jan 26) at Jurong East Central. 

Stomper Suffi was in the vicinity and took a few photos of the aftermath which he forwarded to Stomp.

In the photos, the red Mazda could be observed, having mounted the pavement. 

The front bumper appeared to be heavily damaged.

In response to media queries, the police said they were alerted to an accident involving a car in Jurong East Central, toward Science Centre Road, at about 7.30am. 

A woman was conveyed conscious to Ng Teng Fong General Hospital.

According to The Straits Times, the woman was driving when she saw a cockroach.

She then lost control of her car and swerved in the direction of the overhead bridge. 

After the accident, her son arrived at the site of the accident to assist with the investigation.

Private driving instructor Patrick Ong, 64, advises drivers to stay calm if they discover critters in their vehicles. 

He added:

"Those driving on main roads should stay calm, drive to the side of the road and pull over to address the situation."

Pest control company PestBusters said that between 5 per cent to 10 per cent of the inquiries it attended to within the past two years are related to cockroaches in vehicles. 

Drivers also use pandan leaves as roach repellent in their cars, but the method does not address the root cause of the infestation, said a company spokesman. 

He said that the best way to avoid having cockroaches in the vehicles is to avoid eating in them, as well as decluttering the boot to reduce hiding places for the cockroaches. 

Drivers also tend to overlook transporting these critters in shopping bags. 

If all else fails, the company recommends placing roach traps under the seats.

The spokesman warned that it could be a sign of serious infestation if you see a cockroach in your car during the day time. 

He said:

"If there are roach activities during the day, the infestation level is beyond imagination."

Medical entomologist, Dr Chan Hiang Hao, said that using panda to get rid of roaches is ineffective and a myth. 

He added:

"Cockroaches may avoid it, but they are not killed. Moreover, should these fresh leaves dry up, they could become a food source for cockroaches and other pests."