Van driver who dragged pedestrian along road, killing her after making discretionary left turn, gets jail

A truck driver in Pasir Ris made a voluntary left turn and dragged a passing motorist along the road before rolling over her.

The 68-year-old Singaporean girl died as a result of the incident on her way to work, while the pilot, 61-year-old Singaporean Tan View State, drove off and was arrested later that evening.

Tan was given an eight-year driving ban and a 10 month, four-week jail sentence on Friday ( 12 July ).

He admitted guilt to three visitors offenses under the Road Traffic Act, including driving while not paying attention and disregard, causing dying, failing to stop after a traffic crash, and rendering support. A third command was considered in punishment.

The prosecutor was informed that Tan was driving along Pasir Ris Drive 1 before 6am next month.

At the intersection of Pasir Ris Drive 1 and Loyang Avenue, he made a left turn onto Pasir Ris Drive 6.

The sufferer, 68-year-old Ong Siang Huat, was waiting for the light to turn natural in her favour so she could cross the road. The tech was rushing to get to work.

When the lamps on her side began to turn green, Tan made a voluntary kept turn and drove his vehicle into Mdm Ong, who fell forward.

Before Tan stopped his car, the auto dragged Mdm Ong’s system for a little distance. He therefore drove out suddenly, rolling over Tan.

Mdm Ong’s system was removed from under the vehicle in video film that was broadcast in court to the cries of two ladies in the open gallery, and it remained on the road.

Tan finally left without stopping to check on Mdm Ong.

At the bridge, the driver of the car behind Tan’s de honked at Tan before setting foot to check on the lady.

He requested an emergency, and Mdm Ong was taken to the hospital with numerous injuries. She passed away the same day, and her daughter posted a message on Facebook asking for testimony.

FINED AT LEAST 10 Days BEFORE

The prosecution provided a list of Tan’s prior, appropriate traffic violations that date back to 1992. Since then, he has been fined at least ten times for speeding, careless travelling, and flashing red lighting.

His most recent violation, according to the prosecution, occurred in 2021 when he was fined S$ 400 ( US$ 2707 ) for disobeying a red-light signal.

Tan’s sentence was 15 months and nine weeks in prison, as well as an eight-year driving restrictions, according to the attorney.

She claimed that Tan had “obviously failed” to watch for walkers crossing before turning left when they had the right of way.

She said it was “unexplainable” why Tan had failed to spot Mdm Ong before executing his remaining change.

Tan also admitted to feeling a knock right away after the incident, his threat lights on, and made his mitigation claim.

Nevertheless, he then drove off “at a reasonably quick rate” before turning into a car park.

HE DID NOT KNOW HE HAD KNOCKED INTO SOMEONE: Military

Instead, Tan’s defense attorneys Sunil Sudheesan and Joyce Khoo from Quahe Woo &amp, Palmer requested seven weeks and two days in prison.

Tan owned a couple clothing stores in Singapore and was driving a company van to give clothes to a kiosk in Pasir Ris Drive 6 at the time of the incident, according to the prevention appeal.

After park, he checked his vehicle’s wheels and did not observe any fracture or injury to the vehicle, so he felt “puzzled” as to why he had felt a knock earlier.

According to the defense, he learned of the incident from the traffic police.

Mr. Sudheesan claimed that his client was unaware that he had struck one. He claimed that the moon rose at around 7.16 am that day while the moon set at 6.07 am.

He claimed that the victim, who was only 1.45 meters tall, was “unfortunately” just 1.98 meters high.

” While the accused person did test, he did not check much, and therefore he was careless”, said Mr Sudheesan.

” The victim completely missed out on the fact that there was someone it, and it is quite obvious because of his level.” This is exacerbated by the fact that he did n’t realize that someone would be crossing the road at 6:07 am.

He claimed that when Tan stopped his vehicle, it was “absolutely never within his thought that there was a man beneath his automobile” and that is why he left.

District Judge Kok Shu-En said she struggled with the defence’s obedience.

” The word you used ( in your mitigation plea ) was’ oblivion’. He completely did n’t realise”, she said. ” But this was a motorist at a pedestrian passing, on a natural male light. He did n’t notice the pedestrian, he did n’t notice he knocked down the pedestrian, he did n’t notice he dragged the pedestrian and rolled over the pedestrian. The level of careless driving is quite astounding, perhaps if I accept that none of the unsafe driving components are present.

Tan allegedly dragged the sufferer “quite a range” according to the judge.

Mr. Sudheesan responded, saying that his client ought to have stopped and that something more critical might have occurred and alighted, but that he did not know that he had run over a person at all.

The attorney said that his customer was never trying to avoid legal punishment, unlike other standard hit-and-run situations. Instead, Tan usually intended to plead guilty.

” He’s been overwhelmed by guilt since the incident, and he’s so bitterly sorry that he did n’t check properly. He’s never that large of a man himself, but when ( the prosecutor ) says there was a line of sight, I disagree”, said Mr Sudheesan.

In reaction, the prosecutor said Tan should have seen Mdm Ong if he had paid attention.

The defense, on request, and the judge’s request, agreed that Tan could include spotted Mdm Ong if he had given it the proper care and attention.

In imprisonment, Judge Kok said there was a” considerable amount of mistake” in this case. She permitted Tan to commence his prison sentence the following year.