Remember the Bukit Batok Interchange accident that left 14 people injured in July 2021?
The bus driver responsible for the accident, 66-year-old Mr Loo Eng Chai, was sentenced to six weeks in jail on 31 May.
The driver, who has been driving since 2000, was also disqualified from driving for five years after pleading guilty to one charge of causing grievous hurt to six people by committing a negligent act.
The Incident
Just to put things into perspective, Loo was the one driving the bus with no passengers, i.e. not the one that ended up landing on its side.
And here’s how the incident happened, according to court documents.
At the interchange, Loo had apparently failed to give way while making a right turn.
The other bus, which was travelling in the opposite direction, was situated on the left side of Loo’s bus but moving towards the right.
As Loo did not give way, the other bus, which had the right of way, crashed right into the right side of the other bus, causing it to mount a kerb and flip to its side.
The People Involved
While Loo’s bus had no passengers, the other bus driven by fellow Tower Transit bus driver Mr Mohammed Salleh Mian, 65, did.
The ages of the injured passengers range from ten to 70 years old, and neither the extent nor the nature of their injuries was disclosed in court.
Apart from Mr Mohammed and his passengers, another bus driver who was taking his break was also seriously injured.
Mr Alias Mokson, 57, a bus driver from SBS Transit, was having a break at the interchange when he got hurt as a result of Loo’s actions.
A Considerably Light Sentence
Loo, who was unrepresented in court, said that he is currently working as a cleaner and needed to support his family back in Malaysia.
For causing grievous hurt by committing a negligent act, Loo could have been jailed for up to two years, fined up to $5,000, or both.
For causing hurt by committing a negligent act, he could have been jailed for up to six months, fined up to $2,500, or both.
Featured Image: Facebook (Murali Pillai)