Lorry driver jailed and banned from driving for rash act that caused motorist's death

Selvarasu Baskar was jailed for eight months and banned from driving for eight years for causing the death of a motorist in a traffic accident. PHOTO: ST FILE

SINGAPORE - An assistant supervisor was jailed for eight months and banned from driving for eight years on Friday (May 27) for causing the death of a motorist in a traffic accident.

Indian national Selvarasu Baskar, 27, was driving a company lorry on Jan 5 this year when he made a right turn from Bukit Batok Road into the Pan-Island Expressway (PIE) rashly - without checking that there was no oncoming traffic.

He cut into the path of Mr Wong For Choon who had the right of way. This resulted in Mr Wong's Mercedes-Benz hitting the left side of the lorry. The car burst into flames.

The 63-year-old vegetable dealer was trapped in his car and had to be extricated by civil defence officers. He was pronounced dead 20 minutes later.

Mr Wong had been driving along Jurong Town Hall Road towards Bukit Batok Road at about 5.40am that day while Selvarasu was going in the opposite direction on the second of the five-lane road at the time.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Li Yihong said when Selvarasu reached the signalised junction of Bukit Batok and Jurong Town Hall roads, the traffic light was green without the right turn green arrow.

Selvarasu did not slow down or stop at the right turning pocket to look for oncoming vehicles which had the right of way. His lorry hit Mr Wong's car, which then caught fire. Selvarasu was flung out of his lorry through its windscreen.

DPP Li said that after veering to the right, the lorry continued forward and hit a stationary trailer.

Selvarasu, who complained of giddiness, received outpatient treatment.

In mitigation, he told District Judge Ow Yong Tuck Leong that he had elderly parents to take care of and the accident happened within a week of his joining the company.

He said that during the time of the accident, his marriage plans were going on and had to be cancelled. He offered his sincere apologies to the deceased's family.

He could have been jailed for up to five years and fined for causing death by rash act.

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