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2 weeks’ jail, 2-year driving ban for bus driver who caused pedestrian to suffer multiple bone fractures

SINGAPORE — A bus driver was making a right turn at a junction when his vehicle collided with a pedestrian who had the right of way as she was crossing the road. 

A 48-year-old woman suffered fractures on multiple parts of her body after a bus that Leong Siew Meng was driving collided into her.

A 48-year-old woman suffered fractures on multiple parts of her body after a bus that Leong Siew Meng was driving collided into her.

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SINGAPORE — A bus driver was making a right turn at a junction when his vehicle collided with a pedestrian who had the right of way as she was crossing the road.  

The pedestrian, a 48-year-old woman, suffered fractures on multiple parts of her body, while the front left windscreen of the bus was left cracked as a result of the accident.

On Friday (Dec 23), the Malaysian driver Leong Siew Meng, 55, was sentenced to two weeks' jail and banned from driving for two years after pleading guilty to one charge of committing a negligent act causing grievous hurt.

The court heard that at about 8.46am on July 12, 2019, Leong, who was working for SBS Transit, made a right turn onto Yishun Street 81 at a T-junction while the signal showed a green light only and the pedestrian crossing showed a blinking green man. 

“The accused admitted that he did not notice that there was no right turning arrow at the material time,” said Deputy Public Prosecutor Tan Pei Wei.

The pedestrian, Ms Cariaga Marites Tamsi, was crossing from Leong’s right and had already passed the centre divider when the bus collided into her.

She was taken to hospital following the accident and suffered various injuries including fractures to three ribs, her left collarbone and to the side of her skull. 

She had to undergo an urgent surgery the next day and was warded for 21 days and granted medical leave for 192 days.

The defence counsel and prosecutor disagreed on how to characterise the extent of her injuries.

Seeking a non-custodial sentence, defence counsel Catherine Lim argued that the harm caused to the victim was low to moderate, as the medical report did not state that the victim suffered from a permanent disability.

Ms Lim supported her arguments by citing various other road accident cases where pedestrians involved had suffered worse injuries.

She added that her client’s only act of negligence was not spotting the pedestrian in his path and that he was "very remorseful" over about the incident.

Meanwhile, DPP Tan reiterated how the driver had made the turn even though there was no right-turn arrow signal at that time.

Given that the pedestrian had already walked past the centre divider, there would have been plenty of time for Leong to have spotted her, she said. 

She also objected to the defence characterising the injuries to be less serious than stated, highlighting the multiple fractures the pedestrian had suffered and the lengthy medical leave she was given following the accident.

In delivering his decision, District Judge Ronald Gwee said that he agreed with the prosecutor’s characterisation of the seriousness of the injuries.

For causing grievous hurt by committing a rash or negligent act, Leong could have been jailed up to two years, fined not more than S$5,000, or both.

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court crime traffic accident bus driver

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