C
Cao Pi
Guest
Sep 18, 2010
Driver cleared of cyclist's death
Judge doubts whether driver with right of way could have seen man
By Selina Lum
A MOTORIST who crashed into an elderly cyclist, who was defying all possible road traffic rules, was yesterday acquitted by the High Court of causing the 86-year-old's death through negligence. In overturning the conviction of Addie Razali Lau, Justice Steven Chong said he doubted whether Mr Lau, 37, who had the right of way, could reasonably have seen Mr Sewa Singh at all before the accident.
The judge also doubted whether the accident could have been avoided even if Mr Lau, who was travelling at 60kmh, was within the speed limit of 50kmh at the time of the incident. On the evening of June 7, 2008, Mr Lau was taking his wife, two children and parents for dinner.
He was driving along Eunos Road 8 towards Tanjong Katong Road, with the lights in his favour, when Mr Singh cycled diagonally across the junction, against the flow of traffic and into the path of Mr Lau's car. Flung across the windscreen, Mr Singh was taken to hospital with serious injuries and died nearly two months later.
Read the full story in Saturday's edition of The Straits Times.
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