A 40-year-old Indian national residing in Singapore has been handed a 10-month jail sentence for driving a lorry recklessly, resulting in the tragic death of a 79-year-old Chinese-origin woman. The incident occurred in February, when Sivalingam Suresh pleaded guilty to a charge of driving without due care and attention, colliding with the elderly woman as she crossed a zebra crossing. Regrettably, the victim suffered a head injury and succumbed to it on the same day, as revealed in court.
In addition to the jail term, Suresh, who has a history of irresponsible driving, will face a disqualification from holding or obtaining all classes of driving licenses for eight years after his release. Deputy Public Prosecutor Benedict Teong presented the case, asserting that Suresh failed to notice the pedestrian while approaching the zebra crossing near Ngee Ann Primary School, resulting in a collision.
The prosecutor emphasized that there was no evidence suggesting mechanical failure in the lorry as a contributing factor to the accident. DPP Teong recommended a 10 to 11-month jail term and an eight-year driving ban for Suresh, considering his past record of driving offenses, including inconsiderate driving and disregarding a red light.
The potential legal consequences for causing death by driving without due care and attention include a maximum imprisonment of up to three years and a fine of up to SGD 10,000. The sentencing reflects the severity of the incident and aims to address the recurrent pattern of irresponsible driving exhibited by the offender.
