SINGAPORE: After colliding with a motorcycle, allegedly causing fatal injuries to the motorcyclist and badly injuring the pillion rider, a driver fled to Malaysia without stopping to help the victim.
Malaysian Pua Yui Loon, 27, was arrested after trying to return to Singapore a day after the accident.
He was charged in court on Friday (Feb 9) with five offences:
- Causing death through dangerous driving
- Causing grievous hurt to the motorcyclist’s pillion rider
- Failing to help the motorcyclist
- Failing to provide his particulars after a traffic accident
- Failing to report the accident within 24 hours.
The police said in a statement that they were alerted to the hit-and-run incident involving a car and a motorcycle along the Bukit Timah Expressway (BKE) towards Woodlands at about 1.20am on Feb 6.
The motorcyclist, 22-year-old Joshua Chiam Chee Wai, was pronounced dead at the scene. His pillion rider, a 23-year-old woman, was taken to hospital with serious injuries.
The police said the car driver did not stop to help the injured and instead fled to Malaysia immediately.
Using video footage from witnesses and cameras belonging to the Land Transport Authority, Immigration & Checkpoints Authority and police, the authorities established the vehicle registration of the car and Pua’s identity.
He was arrested at about 3.20pm on Feb 7 when he tried to enter Singapore via Woodlands Checkpoint.
Pua was remanded for investigations on Friday.
If convicted of dangerous driving causing death, he can be jailed for between two and eight years and banned from driving.
For dangerous driving causing grievous hurt, he could be jailed for between one and five years and banned from driving.
For failing to stop after an accident, failing to lodge a report within 24 hours and failing to help the injured, he could be jailed for up to three months, fined up to S$1,000 (US$743), or both.
The police reminded the public that motorists involved in accidents should stop and help those involved, like calling for an ambulance.
“It is an offence to leave an accident scene without rendering assistance or making a report within 24 hours,” said the police, adding that the traffic police would not hesitate to “take firm action against motorists who choose to flout traffic laws and endanger the safety of other road users”.