Updated: 10/09/2013 20:57 | By Channel NewsAsia
“Ultimate road terror” jailed, banned from driving for hit-and-run accident
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SINGAPORE: A banquet operations manager has been sentenced to 13 months' jail and banned from driving for eight years for driving without a licence and causing an accident.
34-year-old Tan Yang Chin had fallen asleep at the wheel while driving on the East Coast Parkway towards Changi Airport at 1.14am on February this year.
He drove into a divider, woke up and then crashed his car into a taxi, which was on the centre lane of the expressway.
This caused the taxi driver to lose control of his vehicle, which then hit a road barrier and overturned.
The taxi driver was ferrying two passengers at the time of the offence.
No one died, but one of the three victims suffered fractures.
Investigations showed that Tan had driven for work purposes the day before, from 6.30am to midnight prior to the accident.
Authorities also found out that he was disqualified from driving for a year until April 2013.
In sentencing, District Judge Low Wee Ping noted that Tan was convicted of drink driving in April last year, so he was fined and banned from driving for a year.
Despite this, the judge said Tan drove at least four times, two months before his suspension ceased.
Describing Tan as "the ultimate road terror", the judge said the accused fled the accident scene and failed to render assistance to the victims.
Earlier on Wednesday, Tan pleaded for leniency, saying he wanted to be a role model for his 10-year-old son.
But Judge Low pointed out that Tan is already "a bad role model".
For causing grievous hurt by being negligent while driving, Tan was given two months' jail.
He was handed an eight-month jail term and banned from driving for eight years for operating a vehicle while under disqualification.
As for failing to render assistance, Tan was given an imprisonment of three months and banned from driving for eight years.
Two related charges were taken into consideration during sentencing. - CNA/nd
