Freak accident on AYE: Cabby jailed 10 months

IN A freak accident, a taxi slammed into a car that had stopped in the centre of an expressway, sending it spinning forward and killing two men.

Cabby Han Choo Bok, 38, was yesterday jailed for 10 months and disqualified from driving for eight years.

Looking contrite, he pleaded guilty to committing a rash act by failing to keep a proper lookout and causing the deaths along Ayer Rajah Expressway (AYE).

His lawyer told the court that the cabby is still too afraid to drive. The collision, just after midnight on Feb 19 last year, also injured two passengers in his taxi.

Mr Seow Hong Xuan, 35, was driving his car on the AYE towards Tuas when it rear-ended the motorcycle of Malaysian Tan Kin Heng, 41.

The motorbike skidded for 19m, while Mr Tan was thrown a short distance ahead.

Mr Seow, an assistant supervisor, stopped his car immediately on the centre lane, switching on the hazard lights.

He was rushing towards Mr Tan when Han's taxi, travelling at 101kmh to 107kmh, smashed into the rear of Mr Seow's stationary car. The speed limit on the AYE is 90kmh.

Han slammed on the brakes but this sent both vehicles spinning forward. Mr Seow was sideswiped by his own car which then ran over Mr Tan. It stopped only after hitting the rear of a passing lorry. Mr Seow and Mr Tan died of multiple injuries at the scene.

The maximum penalty for causing death by a rash act is a five- year jail term and a $10,000 fine.

khush@sph.com.sg

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