Drunken van driver who hit car at junction and fled gets jail, 5-year driving ban
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SINGAPORE – A delivery driver with a poor driving record was put behind bars on July 9 after he pleaded guilty to hitting a car with his van while driving intoxicated, and fleeing thereafter.
Poon Yue Sing, 40, was sentenced to 16 weeks’ jail and fined $500 after he admitted to four offences under the Road Traffic Act.
The Singaporean, who also caused grievous hurt to a motorcyclist in a separate accident, will be banned from driving for five years after his release from prison.
On the evening of Feb 17, 2023, Poon drank six bottles of beer with his colleague after they completed their deliveries. He insisted on driving his colleague home in his van, despite being drunk and feeling tired.
In the early hours of Feb 18, 2023, Poon’s van collided with a car at the junction of Dunlop Street and Clive Street as he failed to obey a traffic sign to stop at a white line. Poon was supposed to give way to the car, which had the right of way.
He fled the scene shortly after as he had previously been warned by the Traffic Police for drink driving and did not want to get caught again.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Shaun Lim said: “He thought that since no one was visibly injured and he did not hit a pedestrian, there was no need for him to stay.
“He even went to the extent of lying to his manager that someone else could have hit the van while it was parked and he was out making deliveries.”
The car driver suffered chest and back pain, and ringing in his ears as a result of the accident. He was given five days’ medical leave. A passenger in the car also suffered minor injuries.
On April 26, 2023, Poon hit a motorcyclist with his van as he did not check for traffic before making a sharp turn from East Coast Road into a carpark.
Parts of the motorcycle’s fairings cracked from the impact and the van’s bumper was left dangling.
The victim suffered jaw fractures, and he had to have surgery. He was given 61 days of hospitalisation leave in total.
DPP Lim said Poon’s six compounded traffic offences between 2014 and 2020, including running a red light and using his mobile phone while driving, were aggravating factors.
The DPP added that though the motorcyclist did not suffer permanent injury, he had to have his jaw wired shut for two months.
