Jail, driving ban for negligent cement-truck driver who struck lorry, injured alighting passengers

SINGAPORE — Failing to see that a lorry had stopped in front of him, cement-truck driver Chidambaram Baskaran rammed into it as passengers were alighting from the lorry.

The impact of the collision from the back was so great, the windscreen of the stationary lorry cracked and three men were seriously injured, with one still needing crutches to walk today.

For causing grievous hurt by a negligent act, Baskaran, 40, was sentenced on Thursday (Oct 10) to three weeks’ jail and banned from driving for 30 months from the time of his release from jail. He pleaded guilty on the same day.

The court heard that on Nov 23 last year at around 6am, the Indian national was driving a cement truck on the left side of a two-lane road along Upper East Coast Road.

At the time, driver Tanjindra Singh, 27, had parked his lorry on the same lane ahead where there were double yellow lines. He switched on the hazard lights to allow some of the passengers seated at the rear of the vehicle to alight.

Two of the six seated passengers proceeded to get off. Mr Uddin Md Ayen, 28, had one leg out of the lorry when the cement truck struck him.

Mr Ali Sahin, 32, who was also alighting, was hurt due to the collision, as was one seated passenger, Mr Roknuzzaman Mohammad, 25.

The three men were taken to the hospital. 

Mr Uddin sustained the worst injuries, including multiple fractures and a ruptured knee capsule.

He was hospitalised for slightly more than two months. When he was discharged, he was given 30 days of medical leave. 

Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Goh Yong Ngee told the court that the period of hospitalisation leave “would have been longer”, but Mr Uddin chose to fly home to India to recover instead of remaining in Singapore.

He added that until today, Mr Uddin still relies on crutches to walk.

Mr Ali was treated for fractures in his midfoot and toe, while Mr Roknuzzaman had a dislocated toe.

DPP Goh noted that at the time of the collision, the weather conditions were clear and the road surface was dry. The traffic flow was light and visibility was clear.

However, because Baskaran failed to keep a proper lookout, he injured several victims and the harm caused to them was serious, the prosecutor said.

In mitigation, the defence said that Baskaran had stopped to offer help and cooperated with the authorities for the investigation.

For causing grievous hurt by a negligent act, he could have been jailed for up to two years, fined up to S$5,000, or both.