One Shocking Night Ends in a 4‑Week Jail Sentence
A 23‑year‑old university student who was juggling textbook studying with a side gig driving for Uber has found himself in a grim, almost tragic twist of fate. The incident? A fatal crash that claimed a passenger’s life and landed the driver behind bars for four weeks, plus a five‑year driving ban.
The Accident That Set Everything Off
On the evening of July 9, 2017, the Toyota Vios was heading toward the Marina Coastal Expressway from the East Coast Parkway slip‑road. A slick exit, wet weather, and a slight miscalculation caused the car to skid and slam into a tree. The impact was so violent it ripped a chunk of wood from the trunk.
Who Got Hurt?
- Passenger – A 31‑year‑old Filipino expatriate, working in Singapore, suffered a fractured skull. He was found motionless on the road and declared dead by paramedics.
- Driver – Mildly shaken, no serious injuries, but the legal repercussions were severe.
Who Was Behind the Wheel?
Our “hero” was a mechanical‑engineering student at Nanyang Technological University (NTU), balancing lecture prep with a part‑time Uber gig. The night’s timeline:
- 8 pm – Returned home after celebrating Eid al‑Fitr.
- 10 pm – Hit the road again.
- Midnight – Quick coffee with friends in Tampines.
- 2:30 am – Back on the road, driving until 10 pm.
- 7:30 am – Picked up the passenger at Changi Business Park on the way to Chapel Road.
When the slip‑road appeared, the driver failed to slow down for the left turn, lost control, and the car crashed. The passenger was not wearing a seat belt, a detail that aggravated the tragedy.
The Legal Fallout
The driver faced charges of death by negligence. On Monday, September 10, he pleaded guilty, resulting in a four‑week jail term and a five‑year ban from driving.
It’s a stark reminder that every passenger deserves precaution and every driver should heed the road’s subtle warnings.
A Long Drive Gone Wrong
The Prosecutor’s Perspective
- Five‑hour marathon on the road, no pit stops.
- Evidence suggested the driver kept pushing the speed limit higher than what the skid marks implied.
- Crash site records show “significant damage” that wouldn’t be caused by a casual, sleepy drive.
The Lawyer’s Counter‑Argument
His counsel argued that fatigue isn’t synonymous with sleepiness. “I was tired,” the lawyer said, “but I wasn’t nodding off or hit‑dining.”
They emphasized he had learnt a hard lesson and already offered a heartfelt apology to the victim’s family.
The Judge’s Verdict
The judge dismissed the fatigue argument altogether: “Whether you’re exhausted or drowsy doesn’t change the fact that a serious accident occurred.”
Outcome & Next Steps
- He will start his jail term on Dec. 3 while still completing his internship.
- Currently, he remains out on a $10,000 bail.
So there you have it—a lesson in the difference between being “tired” and “sleepy,” and the courtroom’s reminder that when you hit the road too hard, the law catches up.
