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Lawyer gets 2 weeks' jail for negligent driving along AYE that led to motorcyclist's death

SINGAPORE — A veteran lawyer was sentenced to two weeks’ jail and a five-year driving ban on Friday (April 29) for causing a motorcyclist’s death in 2018.

The scene of a road accident involving six cars, two motorcycles and a lorry that happened on Sept 12, 2018.

The scene of a road accident involving six cars, two motorcycles and a lorry that happened on Sept 12, 2018.

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  • Laurence Goh Eng Yau caused a pile-up on the AYE in 2018 when he failed to keep a safe distance from the car in front
  • The veteran lawyer swerved to avoid the car when it braked suddenly 
  • In doing so, he side-swiped a motorcyclist in the next lane
  • He pushed the 33-year-old into the path of a lorry, which ran over and killed him
  • A judge said that the case serves as a timely reminder to abide by traffic rules

SINGAPORE — A veteran lawyer was sentenced to two weeks’ jail and a five-year driving ban on Friday (April 29) for causing a motorcyclist's death in 2018.

While driving along the Ayer Rajah Expressway (AYE), Laurence Goh Eng Yau failed to keep a safe distance from the car in front, then abruptly swerved when the vehicle braked due to traffic congestion.

He then side-swiped a motorcyclist in the next lane, causing the 33-year-old to fall into a lorry’s path. The lorry driver had no time to stop and ran over the motorcyclist, killing him.

Goh, 57, pleaded guilty earlier this month to causing death by committing a negligent act.

On Friday, Deputy Presiding Judge Jennifer Marie said that this served as a “timely reminder” of the importance of abiding by traffic rules and being alert when driving.

She told Goh that the consequences in this case was “tragic”, with a life being lost, and that it was a burden he would have to carry.

However, she took into account Goh’s current heart condition in determining the length of his jail term. The prosecution had asked for at least three weeks’ jail along with a five-year driving ban.

Goh could have been jailed for up to two years or fined, or punished with both, for causing death by a negligent act.

Records from the Ministry of Law showed that he is the sole proprietor of a small eponymous law firm and was called to the Bar in 1990.

NINE VEHICLES INVOLVED

The court previously heard that the accident — which involved a total of six cars, two motorcycles and a lorry — took place on Sept 12, 2018.

That day, Goh had risen at about 5.30am and driven his children to school before heading to work.

He left his office along Cantonment Road that afternoon and intended to go to Bukit Panjang. He drove his car on the right-most lane of the AYE, in the direction of Tuas, at about 5.20pm.

The weather was clear, the road surface was dry and traffic flow was heavy at the time.

Due to traffic congestion, a driver who was two cars in front of Goh braked.

The driver directly in front of Goh, Mr Kwok Chien Ping, had slowed down to leave a bigger distance between his vehicle and the car in front of him.

Mr Kwok was thus able to slow down and stop, but Goh failed to keep a proper lookout for the traffic and traffic conditions ahead of him. He also failed to keep a safe following distance from Mr Kwok’s vehicle.

“As a result, while it was apparent that Mr Kwok’s vehicle and the vehicles ahead of it had braked and come to a standstill due to traffic congestion, the accused continued to travel forward,” Deputy Public Prosecutor Lim Shin Hui told the court.

Goh braked when he noticed Mr Kwok had stopped, but was too close to the rear of Mr Kwok’s car.

He then abruptly swerved out into the next lane to avoid a collision but did not check for vehicles in the next lane.

Goh ended up side-swiping Malaysian motorcyclist Wong Yew Wai, who had been riding in the next lane slightly behind his car. Goh also crashed into the back of Mr Kwok’s vehicle.

Wong was pushed to the third lane and into the path of Mr Chia Kok Chye’s lorry. Mr Chia was unable to stop in time and ran over Wong before coming to a stop.

Goh continued swerving and eventually came to a stop between the second and third lanes of the expressway.

The driver behind Goh managed to brake hard and stop in time, but others behind him had no time to do the same. This sparked a chain collision, including with Mr Kwok’s car.

Mr Kwok’s passenger was diagnosed with a neck strain as a result of the accident.

Police officers and paramedics arrived at the scene and pronounced Wong dead.

Related topics

court crime traffic accident negligent death motorcyclist AYE

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