Ong Eng Thoo, 66-years-old, pleaded guilty on 21 January to one charge of causing hurt by a negligent act and was fined $5,000, as well as an 18-month driving ban.
Another similar charge was considered during his sentencing.
He had crashed his bus into a lorry after failing to keep a proper lookout and slowing down on time, resulting in 18 passengers sent to the hospital.
What happened?
On 13 October 2019 at about 1.35pm, Ong was driving a bus ferrying about 33 passengers on the way to the temple.
He was driving in the middle of a road on the BKE with 5 lanes, heading towards the PIE.
A fully loaded lorry with gravel was travelling slowly in front and the lorry driver saw Ong’s bus traveling towards him at a fast speed.
The bus eventually crashed into the lorry and in the collision, an 8-year-old boy sitting at the front of the bus was sent flying forward. Another 58-year-old woman also sell sideways and onto the aisle.
A total of 18 of the 33 passengers were conveyed to the hospital as a result of the collision.
The boy had sustained a fractured finger and a cut on his head, while the woman sustained a fracture spine where she faces the possibility of persistent pain.