Illegal U-turn results in biker's death
Minibus driver jailed for two weeks, banned from driving for four years
The minibus driver overshot his destination and decided to quickly make an illegal U-turn without stopping to check for nearby vehicles.
It proved to be a fatal decision for a motorcyclist behind him, who crashed into the minibus and was killed on the spot.
Mr Ramasamy Reddiar Kunnasegaran, 56, who was just behind the minibus, had little time to react and crashed into it as it was turning to the right.
His injuries were so serious that he died at the scene of the accident, which occurred in December last year.
Yesterday, minibus driver Ang Thiam Poh, 65, was sentenced to two weeks' jail, banned from driving for four years and fined $150.
Court papers said Ang was driving along Penjuru Road, in the direction of Penjuru Place, at about 10am on Dec 12 last year.
Ang, who was alone in the minibus, was heading to Cassia Penjuru, a dormitory on Penjuru Road.
He realised he had overshot his destination only when he was about 10 car lengths away.
So he slowed his minibus and steered his vehicle to the right in order to make an illegal U-turn.
He did so without checking if there were vehicles behind him.
At this point, Mr Ramasamy was riding just behind Ang's vehicle and about to overtake the minibus after seeing that it had slowed down.
But the minibus drove across the two-lane road and into Mr Ramasamy's path. The motorcyclist was too close to the minibus to evade it and crashed into its rear on the right .side.
FRACTURED SPINE
He suffered a fractured spine and was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.
Court papers said the road surface was dry, visibility was clear and the traffic flow was light.
Yesterday, Ang admitted to one count of failing to obey the traffic markings indicating the vehicles could only proceed straight and one count of causing death by a negligent act.
District Judge Shawn Ho noted Mr Ramasamy's blood alcohol level was 270mg per 100ml - which was above the legal limit of 80mg per 100ml - as stated in the autopsy report.
But he added that that Ang had a made a sudden U-turn and Mr Ramasamy could not have avoided a collision.
The judge added that a life was lost as a result of Ang's negligence.
For causing death by negligence, Ang could have been jailed for up to two years and fined.
For failing to obey the traffic markings at the scene, he could have been jailed up to three months and fined up to $1,000.
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