---
title: "Passengers brake bus and call ambulance after Tower Transit driver collapses, honoured alongside SBS Transit bus captain"
url: "/goody-bag/passengers-brake-bus-and-call-ambulance-after-tower-transit-driver-collapses-honoured-alongside-sbs"
published: "2026-10-16T10:29:25.000Z"
updated: "2026-10-16T10:29:25.000Z"
section: "Goody Bag"
authors: ["Cherlynn Ng"]
tags: ["kudos","Stomp Goody Bag","inspiring","heartwarming","Tower Transit","SBS Transit","Baey Yam Keng"]
---

# Passengers brake bus and call ambulance after Tower Transit driver collapses, honoured alongside SBS Transit bus captain

Five people from different walks of life saved the day — and numerous lives — after a bus captain fell unconscious at the wheel.

The incident occurred on Tower Transit bus service 854, near a bus stop along Hougang Avenue 3, on Sept 14 at around 1.30pm.

Three of the five Good Samaritans have since been identified, after the transport operator publicly thanked them in a Facebook post. They are:

- Ng Lihui, who works in food manufacturing, 40
- Ngee Ann Polytechnic student Neo Ying Ying, 18
- SBS Transit bus captain Toh Tiong Huat, 60

![Tower Transit passengers, SBS driver’s heroism lauded](https://cassette.sphdigital.com.sg/image/stomp/17248837f6bae0d59bdf2970d831b51b946c8c6ac9d9e6f3da654476daf661ad)
*Three of the five individuals who responded to the emergency situation have been identified and lauded for their actions.*

## Quick to act

Neo was on the way home when the bus came to a “hard brake”, causing everyone to jolt. She later saw the bus captain slumped over in his chair.

“The bus was slowing down but still moving, so my first instinct was to check out the situation to find out what happened,” recalled Neo, who rushed over to the bus captain and called an ambulance.

Meanwhile, fellow commuter Ng climbed into the driver’s seat, engaged the handbrake and opened the bus doors.

“The bus had already hit the kerb so I knew it was at a stop,” she recounted. “I saw the sticker (for the handbrake). Thankfully it was very big and obvious, so I just pulled the handbrake to secure the vehicle.”

Ng credits a ‘For Safety: Handbrake On’ sticker for her quick action.

![Tower Transit passengers, SBS driver’s heroism lauded](https://cassette.sphdigital.com.sg/image/stomp/cf2a32d75237533fd4b58cab34c2d1a23007d3dd434d6f1c3de2981cfee45a29)
*Ng Lihui, who engaged the bus handbrake, credits a ‘For Safety: Handbrake On’ sticker for her quick action.*

Tower Transit told Stomp that the sticker is pasted in all of its buses as a safety measure to remind bus captains to engage the handbrake when they stop at bus stops or at traffic lights. 

Ng was aided by Toh, who was driving SBS Transit bus service 55 when the incident occurred.

He was behind bus 854 and had gone over to investigate the commotion, then told Ng to press a button to contact the control centre.

The ambulance subsequently arrived, with all passengers onboard safe and sound and the bus captain receiving timely medical care.

![Tower Transit passengers, SBS driver’s heroism lauded](https://cassette.sphdigital.com.sg/image/stomp/b03f7d9961ee8ba49b877a4fed4ec7c8cd51626d2bc5f88a84b0e852e2dc7f3b)
*Ng Lihui (far left), Toh Tiong Huat and Neo Ying Ying were presented with tokens of appreciation at Yishun Integrated Transport Hub on Oct 16.*

## Minister gives thanks, wants two more Good Samaritans to come forward

On Oct 16, Minister of State for Transport Baey Yam Keng thanked the trio and presented them with tokens of appreciation at Yishun Integrated Transport Hub.

The appreciation ceremony was held by Tower Transit in partnership with the Public Transport Council and in support of the Caring SG Commuters movement.

Ng, Neo and Toh were also given Stomp Goody Bags.

![Tower Transit passengers, SBS driver’s heroism lauded](https://cassette.sphdigital.com.sg/image/stomp/2a0540b33d1c90c25894618ec88f80fb1c2f74ccb88d923b258149b3109843bd)
*Ng (far left), Toh and Neo were presented with Stomp Goody Bags on Oct 16.*

None of the three recipients thought that their actions would spark headlines or a public appeal. Ng did not realise Tower Transit was looking for her until news of the incident started circulating among her friends, while a cousin “outed” Neo to the transport operator.

“We didn’t think of coming forward, but (I felt) a bit of peer pressure,” said Ng with a laugh. “We didn’t need appreciation and (my involvement) would have gone unknown if I hadn’t been texting my friends.”

Toh, who has been with SBS Transit for 15 years, told Stomp that he did not expect to be commended, but felt both happy and nervous.

“I actually asked if I could skip attending (the ceremony), but they said no,” he quipped shyly.

Recalling the incident, Neo admitted: “It was quite scary because we didn’t know what would happen.”

Baey noted that the trio had not only saved the bus captain but also ensured the safety of everyone onboard.

![Tower Transit passengers, SBS driver’s heroism lauded](https://cassette.sphdigital.com.sg/image/stomp/ebf9f80e2ef1182d1e77301fb87d70d26eda8d8762127daa2216f1e7cdb5abd8)
*Minister of State for Transport Baey Yam Keng commended the trio for saving the bus captain and ensuring the safety of everyone onboard.*

He appealed for the other two commuters who had responded to the situation to come forward. One of them had been at the bus stop and raised the alarm by banging on the bus door, while the other stayed with Ng and Neo until the ambulance arrived.

“The good work of these five individuals really showed us what we can all do to look out for others,” he said.