Van driver charged with injuring 3 people after allegedly reversing into crowded Tuas coffee shop

SINGAPORE — A 64-year-old driver was hauled to court on Monday (Jan 17) and charged over an accident last year that left two people with broken bones and a third person bruised, after he allegedly stepped on the accelerator while his reverse gear was engaged.

Tan Hwee Koon, a Singaporean, faces one charge each of causing grievous hurt by a negligent act and causing hurt by a negligent act on March 12 last year.

TODAY previously reported that the incident took place around noon at Chuang Hock Eating House located at 18 Gul Street 3 in Tuas, which was crowded at the time with patrons having lunch.

An eyewitness said then that a van ploughed into the coffee shop and went more than 5m in there, smashing a brick divider and pinning a fruit stall vendor at her shop. She and another man, identified as a customer, were later taken away in ambulances.

Court documents stated that Tan is said to have stepped on the accelerator when he was in a parking lot, resulting in the vehicle suddenly reversing towards the eatery.

No other details were given on what Tan was doing there at the time or whether it was his own van.

Tan’s alleged victims were named as Chu Lai Kiew, who suffered ankle and calf fractures and was given 31 days’ medical leave, and Low Mun Wai, who was given 83 days of medical leave after sustaining a “right open radius shaft fracture”.

A third victim identified as She Weijin sustained a hip bruise and was given seven days’ medical leave.

The police previously said that two men and a woman, aged between 40 and 69, were conscious when taken to Ng Teng Fong General Hospital.

Tan indicated his intention to plead guilty and will return to court on March 10. He remains out on bail of S$5,000.

If convicted of committing a negligent act causing grievous hurt, he could be jailed for up to two years or fined up to S$5,000, or punished with both.

Those convicted of causing hurt by a negligent act can be jailed for up to six months or fined up to S$2,500, or both.