Lorry driver jailed over fatal accident

He was driving a lorry along the second lane of Central Expressway (CTE) when he decided to overtake a motorcyclist directly ahead.

Chinese national Sun Jinlong, now 36, then drove between the second and third lanes as he approached biker Tan Kheng Hiok, 61.

But Sun failed to keep a safe distance and the left side of his lorry hit Mr Tan's motorcycle.

Mr Tan fell onto the road and died in hospital about two hours later.

Yesterday, Sun was jailed for three weeks and disqualified from driving for five years after pleading guilty to causing death by performing a negligent act.

The court heard that shortly before the fatal accident, he was driving at a speed of between 60kmh and 70kmh along the four-lane CTE towards Seletar Expressway at around 11pm on March 20, last year.

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The speed limit for the lorry there was 60kmh.

At first, his vehicle was about five car-lengths behind Mr Tan's bike.

But he caught up with him and ended up driving about two car-lengths away.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Zhuo Wenzhao said Sun tried to overtake Mr Tan and increased his speed to between 65kmh and 70kmh.

SWITCH

Sun was switching from the second lane to the third when he spotted another vehicle on the third lane behind him.

He decided to drive between the two lanes and was overtaking Mr Tan's motorcycle when his lorry hit it.

As a result, Mr Tan lost control of his vehicle and fell off.

An eyewitness, Mr Low Kin Goon, who was driving a car nearby, stopped his vehicle after seeing Mr Tan fall headfirst.

Sun stopped his lorry and when he alighted, he saw Mr Tan lying unconscious on the ground with blood coming out of his mouth and nose.

The police were notified and an ambulance rushed him to Tan Tock Seng Hospital. He was pronounced dead at around 1am the next day.

An autopsy revealed he died from a head injury.

For causing a death by performing a negligent act, Sun could have been jailed for up to two years and fined.