In a tragic incident that occurred in 2021, a driver under the influence of alcohol collided with a food delivery rider, resulting in the rider’s untimely death.
The driver, identified as Andre Low Cheng Jun, aged 36, has pleaded guilty to charges of drunk driving and driving without reasonable consideration.
On 24th May, he was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment and a 10-year driving ban.
According to reports from Channel NewsAsia (CNA), the incident took place on the evening of 23rd March 2021. Prior to the collision, Low had consumed one-and-a-half glasses of Martell cognac at Clarke Quay before driving his friend to Potong Pasir.
While on Tampines Road, he overtook two cars at a high speed, which was noticed by the other drivers.
At a T-junction on Hougang Avenue 1, a food delivery rider had stopped his e-bike in the middle of the second lane. Unfortunately, Low failed to notice the rider and continued to accelerate, only realizing his presence when it was too late. He applied the brakes abruptly but ended up crashing into the back of the rider’s bike.
The impact of the collision propelled the victim into the air, causing him to roll over Low’s vehicle before hitting the ground. The accident severely damaged the e-bike and resulted in the car’s front bonnet and bumper being torn off.
An eyewitness promptly reported the incident to the police, while Low himself called for an ambulance. Upon arriving at the scene, the officers conducted a breathalyser test on Low, which he failed due to the strong smell of alcohol emanating from him. Subsequently, the police arrested him and took him to the traffic police headquarters.
During the investigation, it was revealed that Low had 45 microgrammes of alcohol in 100ml of his breath, surpassing the legal limit of 35. Tragically, the victim succumbed to head and chest injuries at the hospital on the same day.
The prosecution sought a jail term of 15 to 18 months, along with a 10-year driving ban, highlighting the evidence of dangerous driving exhibited by Low. They stated that he was driving well above the speed limit of 60km/h, reaching speeds of at least 70km/h and possibly up to 93km/h while intoxicated. Furthermore, he had accelerated just before reaching the stop line.
Low’s legal representative acknowledged that this was his first encounter with the law and emphasized his client’s deep remorse for the tragedy that unfolded.