Jail for driver who caused fatal accident after dozing off
The lorry hit a stationary van, causing it to lurch forward and hit two men - killing one of them and severely injuring the other.
Delivery driver Ng Leng Seng (right), 46, was yesterday jailed for three months and disqualified from driving for five years.
He had pleaded guilty to one count each of causing grievous hurt and causing a death by driving in a negligent manner.
The court heard that at around 6.45am on Jan 5, Mr Rangasamy Balagobi, 25, an operations controller, was driving his van along the Bukit Timah Expressway (BKE) towards the Pan Island Expressway when he got involved in a minor chain collision.
Mr Rangasamy contacted security manager Stephen Muthu Thavidy, 37. He then drove his van forward and stopped in the middle of the chevron marking near the Bukit Panjang Road exit.
Mr Stephen arrived about 40 minutes later in his car and parked it nearby. The two men then stood about a metre from the front of the van and examined the damage caused during the chain collision.
Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Ruth Teng said that a few minutes later,Ng was seen driving his lorry along the BKE.
She said the vehicle was seen travelling at an angle towards the left as though Ng wanted to cut across the tip of the chevron to exit onto Bukit Panjang Road.
His lorry hit the rear of the van, which in turn, ploughed into the two men.
Mr Rangasamy was dragged by the front right tyre of the lorry and suffered multiple injuries. Mr Stephen was flung onto a slip road towards Bukit Panjang.
Paramedics pronounced Mr Rangasamy dead at the scene at 7.55am. He died from a lacerated brain due to a fractured skull.
Mr Stephen was rushed to the National University Hospital where he was found to have brain injuries and facial fractures. He was warded for 19 days and given 49 days of hospitalisation leave.
"According to the medical report, he may sustain permanent visual field impairment due to (the) neurological injury," said DPP Teng.
FELL ASLEEP
She added that Ng had fallen asleep while driving, which resulted in the accident. He was heading towards Sims Drive for breakfast when the accident occurred.
"He had had his usual seven hours of sleep before starting work at 5.30am that day," said DPP Teng.
For causing death by negligent driving, Ng could have been jailed up to two years and fined.
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