46-year-old Sheik Salim Said pleaded guilty to one count of careless driving causing grievous hurt and was sentenced to 5 months imprisonment on 22 August, as well as being banned from driving for 5 years.
Three other charges were considered for his sentencing, including for driving away from the scene of the accident after hitting a 9 year old girl.
The victim cannot be named due to the Children and Young Persons Act.
What happened
Salim was driving along Bedok North Drive on 18 April 2021 at about 8.20pm, before filtering onto a slip road and heading towards Bedok North Avenue 1, while on his delivery jobs.
He then drove without care and attention, failing to keep a proper lookout for pedestrians along the designated zebra crossing.
He then crashed into a 9 year old girl and her 37 year old mother, who had the right of way at the time and were on the zebra crossing.
He had failed to slow down before the collision.
Moved victims to the side and ignored pleas for help, then flees
After the accident, he alighted from his car and moved the victims to the side of the road and ignored the woman’s pleas for help and to call an ambulance, before driving off from the scene.
Emergency help was later called by passers-by, and the victims were then conveyed to Changi General Hospital.
Salim was later tracked down by the police the next day via information that was provided to them.
Brain injury
The 9-year-old girl suffered severe traumatic brain injury which required surgery, as well as a broken shin bone and abrasions.
She was sedated for 10 days in the children’s ICU before being discharged on 13 May and given 73 days of hospitalisation leave.
She is still suffering from short-term memory problems as of 5 April this year, and her parents have also reported changes in her behaviour.
Her 37-year-old mother suffered abrasions on her left elbow as well as a tender right foot, and was hospitalised for 3 days and given 30 days hospitalisation leave.