Project manager jailed and banned for causing two deaths by dangerous driving
Published on Mar 17, 2015 1:25 PM
By Elena Chong
SINGAPORE - A project manager who ran a red light and rammed into two pedestrians was jailed for nine months and banned from driving for six years on Tuesday.
Ng Boon Wee, 55, pleaded guilty to causing the death of hawker Khoo Thuan Kheng, 72, and polytechnic student Tien Kang Fan, 18, by driving dangerously along Sin Ming Avenue on May 5 last year.
A district court heard that Ng was driving along Sin Ming Avenue towards Bishan Street 22 at 7.19am that day when he ran the light and hit Madam Khoo and Kang Fan, who were crossing on the "green man" signal light.
"The accused did not slow down or stop to use his sunglasses even though he was exposed to sun glare. Instead, he dangerously drove through the signalised pedestrian crossing without ascertaining the traffic light status or ensuring that pedestrians were not crossing the road," said Deputy Public Prosecutor Timotheus Koh.
Both pedestrians suffered multiple injuries and were taken to Tan Tock Seng Hospital. Madam Khoo died the next day and Kang Fan, on May 8.
Mr Koh highlighted aggravating factors in seeking a sentence of at least nine months' jail and a driving ban.
Ng was clearly rash, he said.
Being familiar with the location, he knew he was approaching a signalised pedestrian crossing with a high likelihood of heavy human and vehicular traffic.
If he could not see the traffic light signals due to sun glare, Mr Koh said, he should have slowed down to check, or stopped his vehicle by the side of the road, to put on his sunglasses.
"Instead, he was content to 'blindly' drive through the signalised pedestrian crossing. He applied his brakes only after colliding with the first and second deceased," he said.
District Judge Salina Ishak agreed that Ng was fairly rash when he drove across the junction when the signal lights were against him, resulting in the needless death of two pedestrians.
Ng, who is married with two sons, could have been jailed for up to five years for causing death by dangerous driving.
