Cabby jailed for crash that crushed man's legs
Cabby accidentally sped up instead of braked
His lorry broke down along the Pan Island Expressway (PIE) and he alighted to set up a breakdown sign.
Lorry driver Ng Xin Yun, now 28, was walking back to his vehicle when a taxi hit him at 11.05pm on Nov 17 last year.
The injuries he suffered were so severe that both his legs had to be amputated.
He now has to move around in a wheelchair.
Cabby Malik Samat, now 38, was jailed for a week and disqualified from driving for two years yesterday after pleading guilty to one count of causing grievous hurt by performing a negligent act.
One count of causing hurt by negligent driving, involving his rear seat passenger, was taken into consideration.
Malik was driving his taxi along the PIE towards Tuas near the Eng Neo exit that evening when he spotted Mr Ng's vehicle about six car lengths away.
At first, the cabby thought the lorry was just moving at a slow pace, the court heard yesterday.
He was checking his blind spots as he wanted to overtake it when his passenger, Mr Chen Chee Wei, 50, suddenly yelled out that the lorry was, in fact, stationary.
Mr Chen also pointed out that Mr Ng standing behind the lorry.
Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Goh Yi Ling said: "In an attempt to avoid the accident, the accused mistakenly stepped on the accelerator instead of the brakes and ran into (Mr Ng)."
Both the lorry driver and Mr Chen were rushed to Tan Tock Seng Hospital after the crash.
INJURIES
Mr Ng was found to be suffering from severely crushed lower limbs - fractures to his shin and calf bones - and a brain injury.
DPP Goh added: "Due to the severity of his injuries, both of his lower limbs have been amputated. He will be wheelchair-bound for life."
She also said that his condition in the Intensive Care Unit was "critical for a long period of time".
He developed complications from severe trauma including blood poisoning, acute kidney injury and wound infections to both above-knee amputation stumps
Mr Ng was discharged on Jan 17 and given three months' medical leave.
The court heard that Mr Chen had a swollen right arm and suffered a knock to his head.
He received outpatient treatment and was discharged with three days of medical leave.
For causing grievous hurt by performing a negligent act, Malik could have been jailed up to two years and fined up to $5,000.
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