Private bus driver who beat red light, killed elderly pedestrian gets 4 months’ jail

SINGAPORE — A private bus driver beat a red light one afternoon last year and ploughed into an elderly pedestrian, who died later in hospital from his injuries.

Neo Ah Poh, 59, was sentenced to four months’ jail on Monday (July 22) for causing the death of Hoon Keng Seng, 80.

Neo was also banned from getting or holding all classes of driving licences for seven years after he is released from prison.

The court heard that on Sept 26, 2018, at about 5.40pm, Neo was driving his bus in the left-hand bus lane along Woodlands Avenue 3 towards Woodlands Avenue 5. He did not slow down when he approached the signalised pedestrian crossing.

He then collided into Hoon, who was crossing the road. Hoon was flung onto the road and collapsed, bleeding.

Video footage of the incident from Neo’s in-vehicle camera was played in court.

He said he did not check to ensure the traffic light was in his favour when he was driving towards the pedestrian crossing.

After the incident, Neo stopped his vehicle and went to check on the victim. The elderly man was taken to Khoo Teck Puat Hospital in a critical condition, where he was declared dead about an hour afterwards.

A vehicle mechanical inspection revealed that the engine, steering, braking and transmission systems were all in serviceable condition at the time. There was no evidence of mechanical failure that could have caused or contributed to the incident.

At the time, the road surface was dry and visibility was good.

Neo gave his own mitigation plea in court. Through an interpreter, he asked for a shorter custodial sentence so he could return to work and support his family, including three school-going children.

District Judge John Ng noted that Neo had expressed remorse, and stated in his written mitigation plea that he wished to apologise to the victim’s family and asked for forgiveness.

For causing Hoon’s death by dangerous driving, Neo could have been jailed for up to five years.