A former bus driver, who drove off while an 88-year-old passenger still had one foot in the bus, was on Wednesday (April 27) sentenced to one week’s jail and disqualified from driving for 18 months for his negligence.

Passenger Ting Lang Kin’s left foot, which was crushed, had to be amputated following the accident on April 3 last year.

According to court documents, Lau Pik Choong was driving an SMRT bendy bus along Woodlands Centre Road on that day. When his bus reached the bus-stop, Madam Ting walked slowly to the exit doors to alight. However, Lau closed them  before she could reach the rear exit.

After a passenger pressed the buzzer to alert Lau, he reopened the doors  and Mdm Ting slowly made her way down the steps of the rear exit.

She was on the last step of the bus  — with one foot on the ground, and the other on the step — when Lau drove off with the rear exit door still open.

His action caused Mdm Ting to fall out of the bus onto the ground, and her left leg was then run over by the vehicle’s rear left wheel.

Other passengers shouted at Lau, who stopped the bus immediately. He then reversed the bus slowly to free Mdm Ting’s trapped leg.

She was taken to to Khoo Teck Puat Hospital (KTPH) in a serious condition.

According to a medical report, the injuries to her leg were deemed to be “non-reconstructable”, and her left foot had to be amputated. Mdm Ting, who was warded at KTPH for several days, was later transferred to Singapore General Hospital, where she remained until May 21 last year.

At the State Courts on Wednesday, Assistant Public Prosecutor Dillion Kok pressed for a jail term of between one and two weeks, and for Lau to be disqualified from driving for two years.

Lau, a Malaysian, had earlier pleaded guilty to a charge of causing grievous hurt by a negligent act.

Mr Kok cited a couple of “aggravating factors” in the case, such as how Lau had a “reasonable expectation” to ensure that the doors were closed before driving off.

“In moving off the bus, he (Lau) failed miserably in his primary duty,” said Mr Kok, noting that Mdm Ting had suffered serious injuries due to Lau’s negligence.

Lau, who was unrepresented in court, said in Mandarin that he had been “very upset” for causing pain to Mdm Ting.

“If you give me a chance, I will prevent such things from happening again. I will be very careful,” said Lau, adding that he has an 80-year-old father to look after. “If I go to jail, I will have nothing. I will lose my job.”

Lau, who is still an SMRT employee, said his company had removed him from his duties as a bus driver. “If I can have my licence back, I will not drive a public bus again,” he added.

In sentencing, District Judge Eddy Tham said Lau should have a “high degree of care” as he was a public bus driver. He should also have ensured that every passenger had alighted safely before driving off.

In this case, Lau should have paid more “careful attention” as Mdm Ting was elderly, he added.

“You could easily avoid this tragic incident (by ensuring that the passenger had) fully alighted ... your negligence (resulted in her) injuries. You have no doubt caused excruciating pain to the victim,” the judge said.

Source:
courtesy of TODAY

by Amanda Lee

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