Tan Hwee Koon, 64-years-old, pleaded guilty on Thursday (10 March) to causing grievous hurt through a negligent act, he was sentenced to 2 weeks imprisonment and banned from driving for 24 months.
The incident happened in March last year.
He was working as a delivery driver at the time and was lunging forward inside his van to catch a parcel that was falling, and he then stepped on the gas pedal causing it to reverse and mount a couple of kerbs.
Two victims were at the eatery behind him were hit by his van as a result,
What happened?
On 12 March 2021, Tan was driving his van for his delivery errands at around 12.40pm when he stopped his vehicle outside Chong Hock Eating House, located at Tuas.
He stopped his van by stepping on the brake pedal with the reverse gear engaged, and the engine was also running at the time.
Tan then reached out to grab a parcel on the seat beside him, and his foot then moved from the brake pedal to the accelerator.
As a result, the van then accelerated backwards with such force that he drove over a parking block and kerb that were both 13cm high.
He then crashed into the eatery behind him, as well as injuring two victims.
One of the victims, 69-year-old Chu Lai Kiew, was trapped in her stall and suffered a fractured leg and ankle, and was given 31 days medical leave after being conveyed to the hospital – she was revealed to still be suffering from a spinal injury during a medical checkup later in the year.
The other victim was 40-year-old Low Mun Wai, who was sitting near the van at the time of the incident – he suffered a fractured arm and was given 83 days medical leave.