Man jailed 5 months, disqualified from driving for causing death of elderly woman in Yishun

SINGAPORE – While making a discretionary right turn onto Yishun Ring Road, a man did not notice a woman standing in the middle of the road and his minibus hit her.

For failing to keep a proper look out, Eng Kheng Long, 54, was sentenced on Oct 22 to five months’ jail and disqualified from holding all classes of driving licences for eight years.

He pleaded guilty to one count of driving without due care and attention, causing death.

The court heard that

Eng was driving the minibus at around 8am on June 20, 2023

, exiting a carpark at Block 256 Yishun Ring Road.

Around the same time, the 75-year-old woman was crossing the same road at an area that was not a designated pedestrian crossing.

Eng did not stop his vehicle at the exit line of the carpark and instead made a right turn. His minibus hit the woman who was standing in the middle of the road.

She was taken to Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, where she died at around 4pm.

Eng was arrested and later released.

Court documents state that there was no evidence of any possible mechanical failures on the minibus that could have contributed to the incident.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Jordy Kay told the court that the prosecution was seeking a jail sentence of five to six months, and an eight-year disqualification for all classes of vehicles.

Mr Kay noted that Eng’s culpability was low, as he only failed to stop at the exit line of the carpark.

“There are no other aggravating factors,” he said.

For driving without due care and attention causing death, offenders can be fined up to $10,000, jailed for up to three years, or both.

They could also be disqualified from holding all classes of licences for eight years.