54-year-old American, Andrew Charles Vasko, who is a Singapore PR, is being accused of causing the death of 40-year-old Singapore policewoman Salinah Mohamed by driving his Aston Martin into her back in 2019.
He went on trial yesterday for causing the death of Salinah, who was crossing the road when the traffic lights were in her favour at a traffic junction at Shenton Way.
Vasko is facing one charge of causing death by a negligent act not amounting to culpable homicide for not keeping a proper lookout when making a turn with his car.
Salinah suffered skull fractures as a result of the accident and was ultimately declared brain dead on 14 February 2019, with the cause of her death being a head injury that was sustained during the accident.
What happened?
On 10 February 2019, Vasko drank 2 glasses of white wine at about 7pm at Sentosa, with the last of his drink being consumed at 7.45pm.
He then drove his Aston Martin at 9.25pm into the far right lane of Maxwell Road that was heading towards the Straits Boulevard.
He then stopped at the stop line when the traffic light turned red at the junction of Shenton Way, and he was on the far right turning lane.
The traffic light then turned green for him and he then moved his car to the middle of the junction and waited to make a discretionary right turn.
As he was turning right, his Aston Martin then hit Salinah, who was crossing the road halfway from Vasko’s left-to-right view, and the traffic light was in her favour at the time.
She was then thrown onto the road from the impact and sustained a severe injury to her head, and was unconscious when conveyed to the hospital.
She succumbed to her injuries and died 4 days later after being declared brain dead, leaving behind her husband and 3 young children.
Vasko was reportedly driving within the speed limit and passed a breathalyser test, according to court documents.
The case has been adjourned to November, and the court has also granted Vasko’s application to leave Singapore for a few months before returning in January.