Driver Fined for Causing Spinal Fracture to Cyclist in Red Light Running Incident
In a recent court case in Singapore, Ian Tai Zhi Jian, 35, was fined S$4,800 (US$3,500) and banned from driving for five years for causing a spinal fracture to a cyclist by running a red light. Tai pleaded guilty to a charge of careless driving that resulted in grievous hurt to the cyclist.
Details of the Incident
The incident occurred on Jul 25, 2024, at around 11.05am when Tai was driving along Jurong Town Hall Road towards Bukit Batok Road. As he approached the cross junction of Jurong Town Hall Road and Boon Lay Way, the traffic light turned red. Despite the red light signal, Tai continued driving without slowing down and collided with the cyclist who was crossing the pedestrian crossing from Tai’s right to his left.
The impact caused the cyclist to sustain a spinal fracture, leading to minimally invasive surgery and a nine-day hospitalization period, followed by 68 days of hospitalization leave. Fortunately, a medical report indicated that the cyclist was likely to recover, and the injury may not be permanent.
Court Proceedings and Sentencing
During the court proceedings, it was revealed that Tai’s in-vehicle camera captured footage showing the red light had been on for at least four seconds before the collision. The prosecutor highlighted that Tai’s lack of attention to the traffic signal, despite the red light, led to the accident.
Despite the severity of the harm caused to the cyclist, the prosecution did not push for a jail term due to the cyclist’s admission of crossing the road when the pedestrian light was also red. Tai’s defense lawyer argued that various factors contributed to the unfortunate situation, including the cyclist’s decision to cycle across the pedestrian crossing.
Response from Ministry of Education
In response to inquiries about Tai’s case, the Ministry of Education (MOE) acknowledged the incident and stated that they would investigate further. MOE emphasized that they take staff misconduct seriously and would implement disciplinary actions as necessary.
As the case concluded, it was evident that Tai’s actions had significant consequences, highlighting the importance of road safety and adherence to traffic signals to prevent accidents and injuries.