SINGAPORE - A taxi driver who hit and caused the death of a pedestrian at a signalised T-junction was jailed for one week and banned from driving for four years on Wednesday (Nov 16).

Siow Teck Chai, 66, pleaded guilty to causing the death of Mr Goh Chin Hock, 71, through his negligence at the junction of Jalan Eunos and Eunos Crescent at 8.15pm on May 8.

He had failed to keep a proper lookout when approaching the junction, thus hitting Mr Goh who was walking across the pedestrian crossing from his left to right, causing his death.

The court heard that Mr Chin and another pedestrian were waiting to cross the road that evening.

The red man was showing when Mr Goh began walking across the pedestrian crossing.

Siow was driving his taxi on the first lane of the four-lane Jalan Eunos when he failed to keep a proper lookout as he was approaching the junction.

He did not see Mr Goh walking but the other vehicles on his left had applied their brakes.

As Siow was approaching the junction, the traffic light turned from green to amber. He still did not notice Mr Goh who had by then walked across three lanes. He accelerated and could not stop his taxi in time and the vehicle struck Mr Goh.

Mr Goh was thrown onto the windscreen of the taxi and landed on the right of the vehicle.

A car behind could not stop in time and hit the rear of Siow's taxi.

Mr Goh died from multiple injuries at Changi General Hospital the next day.

Siow, who had been working as a cabby for 18 years and driving the taxi since March, could have been jailed for up to two years and/or fined for causing death by committing a negligent act.