2 charges for hitting bridge

[Zhang He]

Dec 2, 2010

MARINA SQUARE LINKWAY DAMAGE
2 charges for hitting bridge

By Elena Chong

A lorry carrying a crane made a 1m-wide gash across the false ceiling of the walkway linking Marina Square shopping mall and Pan Pacific Hotel. The driver ha apparently failed to lower the crane to the required 4.5m height. -- PHOTO: SHIN MIN

A MAN who allegedly caused a heavy vehicle to hit a sheltered linkway bridge at Marina Square earlier this year was charged with two traffic offences on Thursday.

Onn Eng Fatt, 54, is accused of driving the loaded crane lorry with an extended boom of more than 4.5m high along Raffles Boulevard without being escorted by a police officer or auxiliary police officer at about 11.30pm on March 11.

He is said to have driven without consideration by failing to exercise care, causing the crane to hit onto the 4.5m- high sheltered linkway bridge between Marina Square and Pan Pacific Hotel.

Onn's case was adjourned to Jan 12 for him to seek legal advice and to see his Member of Parliament. If convicted of the first charge, he can be jailed between one and three years and fined up to $2,000.

The penalty for inconsiderate driving is a fine of up to $5,000 and/or a jail term of up to two years.

 

[youallhumsup]

Crane driver who damaged Marina linkway fined $5,000

Published on Oct 6, 2011​

(Above) Onn Eng Fatt, 55, was at the wheel of a lorry equipped with a retractable crane on March 11, 2010. The 55-year-old was unaware that the crane boom had not been lowered completely. He only found out on Raffles Boulevard. -- ST PHOTO: WONG KWAI CHOW

By Khushwant Singh

Onn Eng Fatt, 55, was at the wheel of a lorry equipped with a retractable crane on March 11, 2010.

The 55-year-old was unaware that the crane boom had not been lowered completely. He only found out on Raffles Boulevard.

By then, it was too late. It had smashed into the covered linkway between Marina Square Shopping Centre and Pan Pacific Hotel.

On Oct 6, Onn pleaded guilty to causing $386,280 worth of damage to the overhead bridge. He was fined the maximum $5,000 and disqualified from driving for a year.

Onn was then employed by T.M. Transport Contractor. At about 11.30pm, he had been loading and tying brick casts onto the lorry with the help of two workers.

He then walked away while the others continued.

Read the full story in Thursday's edition of The Straits Times.