Woman Dies After Being Hit by Taxi While Jaywalking in Balestier
A 31-year-old woman died after being struck by a taxi along Balestier Road while she was jaywalking in the early hours of 27 May 2024. The court later heard that she had been intoxicated at the time of the incident.
The driver, 71-year-old Lin Hangbang (transliteration), pleaded guilty to one count of careless driving. He was fined S$8,000 and disqualified from driving for eight years. Lin had been driving towards Lavender Street when the collision occurred near a pedestrian crossing close to Jalan Dusun, reported Shin Min Daily News.
Fatal Collision Caught on Dashcam
Court documents revealed that the accident happened around 2am in clear weather, with dry roads and good visibility. Dashcam footage played in court showed Lin’s taxi proceeding straight at a green light before striking the woman, who was crossing the road outside of a designated crossing.
The impact shattered the taxi’s windscreen and hurled the victim forward. Her boyfriend, who was waiting nearby and witnessed the accident, immediately rushed to her side before calling the police. She was sent unconscious to Tan Tock Seng Hospital but was pronounced dead about an hour later, at 3:09am.
An autopsy confirmed that her cause of death was chest injuries consistent with a traffic accident. Toxicology reports found at least 216mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood in her system — more than double the legal drink-driving limit — which may have impaired her judgment and reflexes.
Court’s Consideration and Sentencing
In mitigation, Lin told the court he had nothing further to add, while the prosecution noted that he had no prior record and that the deceased had been jaywalking. Taking into account that Lin had the right of way at the time of the collision, the prosecution recommended a fine of between S$6,000 and S$8,000, as well as a licence suspension.
The judge imposed the maximum suggested fine of S$8,000 and disqualified Lin from driving for eight years.
The case has once again drawn attention to pedestrian safety and the dangers of jaywalking in Singapore, especially in areas with heavy traffic such as Balestier Road. Authorities continue to remind both motorists and pedestrians to exercise caution and abide by traffic rules to prevent such tragedies.