Bus driver’s fatal accident appeal rejected

A bus driver who appealed his six-month jail sentence for knocking down a 61-year-old woman and dragging her for more than 80m has had his appeal rejected.

The driver argued that the circumstances surrounding the collision were “unique” and “mysterious”, and that the likelihood of such an incident occurring was “very low”.

However, the judge said his arguments were “unhelpful and self-serving” and dismissed his appeal.

The offender, 57-year-old Low Man Hong, faced a charge of causing death by careless driving. He was convicted in February and sentenced in April to six months’ jail and eight years’ disqualification from driving all classes of vehicles.

According to court documents, the fatal accident occurred at about 10.26pm on June 20, 2022, along Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3.

That night, Low was driving a Tower Transit bus and turning left from Ang Mo Kio Avenue 1 into Avenue 3.

When the traffic light turned green, he made the turn just as the victim began crossing the road with the green man signal in her favour.

Low did not notice the woman, and the front left portion of the bus struck her, knocking her down.

Unaware of the collision, he continued driving, dragging her for about 82.2m before her body separated from the vehicle and was left on the road near the junction of Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3 and Street 21.

While lying on the road, the victim was run over by a car and a taxi. The woman was pronounced dead at the scene at 10.40pm, when paramedics and police arrived.

Low remained unaware that he had been involved in an accident until he received a call from his company in the early hours of the following morning. He was subsequently arrested by the police at 3.35am, according to Shin Min Daily News.

Bus driver claimed circumstances surrounding collision were ‘unique’ and ‘mysterious’

Low subsequently appealed against his conviction, arguing that the circumstances surrounding the collision were “unique” and “mysterious”. He also claimed that the probability odef such an accident occurring was “very low”.

The judge rejected his arguments, describing them as “unhelpful and self-serving”.

“There was nothing unique or mysterious about the undisputed fact that the deceased was hit by the bus while crossing a pedestrian crossing when she had every right to do so,” the judge wrote.

He added that there was “no basis” to suggest that there was a “very low” probability of the accident happening.

Driver should have exercised greater care when turning: Judge

In his appeal, Low argued that the bus’s design created blind spots and that he had taken all necessary precautions before making the turn.

However, the judge noted that blind spots were a known obstruction and that Low should therefore have exercised greater care.

According to footage captured from within the bus, the driver’s view was indeed obstructed by an A-pillar on the left and the structure of the front left door.

But it was Low’s responsibility to check these known blind spots, the judge asserted.

He could have moved his body to check as the bus entered the pedestrian crossing, but in-vehicle camera footage showed that he had only “turned his head a few times to the left and leaned forward slightly for a few seconds” before the bus reached the crossing.

The judge also noted that Low was completely unaware of the victim’s presence, which meant he had failed to maintain a proper lookout.

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