Man who ran car into elderly couple fined

SINGAPORE: A 40—year—old driver has been fined S$7,500 and banned from driving for 42 months for causing the death of an elderly pedestrian.

David Chang was fined a further S$4,000 for causing grievous injury to the pedestrian’s wife.

On 22 January this year at about noon, Chang was driving along Telok Blangah Road towards Pasir Panjang when his car ran into the elderly couple.

He had shut his eyes for three seconds while driving because of fatigue.

Before the accident, the credit officer had been gambling at Resorts World Sentosa casino for 15 hours.

When he dozed off at the wheels, Chang veered to the left of the road and into the bus bay.

Mdm Ler Sock Hua, 70 and her husband, Yeo Ah Bah, 73 were standing at the bus stop, waiting to cross the road.

The collision killed Mr Yeo and seriously injured Mdm Ler.

Assistant Public Prosecutor Jamunah urged for a fine and a driving ban, saying Chang probably closed his eyes due to lack of sleep.

She said the accident happened along a straight road and at a place where pedestrians are expected.

Chang’s lawyer said in mitigation that the two charges arose out of the same incident and that his client has been "severely traumatised" and has had nightmares after the accident.

The lawyer also stressed that Chang had rendered assistance to the elderly couple after the accident and had pleaded guilty at the first instance.

District Judge Wong Choon Ning took the various factors into account.

Describing the incident as "tragic", she said the question is "when we look back, was the accident avoidable in the first place?".

But the judge also agreed with the prosecution that the case falls in the non—custodial category.

— CNA/ck