Delivery driver who killed 2, injured 6 in BKE accident gets 12 weeks' jail

A delivery driver who ploughed through eight motorcyclists who were seeking shelter from the rain at a road shoulder under a flyover spanning the Bukit Timah Expressway (BKE) last year was given 12 weeks’ jail on Tuesday (April 3).

Koh Boon Ping, 25, is also disqualified from driving all classes of vehicles for five years, reports The Straits Times and Lianhe Wanbao. 

Of the eight motorcyclists, two were killed, while five suffered fractures.

The last motorcyclist escaped with multiple abrasions. 

Koh pleaded guilty to causing the two motorcyclists’ deaths by negligent driving. 

During the sentencing, one count each of grievously hurting the five motorcyclists due to negligent driving and a third charge involving the sixth man, who suffered less serious injuries, were considered.

The court heard that Koh who also worked as a sales promoter was driving towards Woodlands in the extreme right lane of the Seletar Expressway (SLE) at around 3.50pm on March 11.

He then entered a slip road leading to the BKE, and was driving to an area underneath the flyover when he failed to maintain proper control of the van, causing it to veer to the left, towards the motorcyclists. 

Deputy Public Prosecutor Lee Zu Zhao said in court:

"As the accused veered into the road shoulder, he collided into one of the motorcycles parked underneath the flyover."

After hitting the first victim, Koh panicked and accidentally stepped on the accelerator pedal, causing the van to surge forward and crashing into the other motorcyclists, he added. 

The van only stopped moving when one of the motorcycles got stuck beneath it. 

Two motorcyclists,  Mr Lim Chun Hong, 34, and Mr Loke Whay Mam, 50, were pronounced dead at the scene.

The six survivors, aged between 21 and 53 years old suffered injuries of varying severity, ranging from fractures to abrasions. 

Koh was subsequently arrested on the day itself. 

A video of the gruesome aftermath was later uploaded and went viral. 

The clip shows the victims lying on the road, some motionless and bloody. 

During the mitigation plea, Koh’s lawyer, Mr K. Jayakumar Naidu, pleaded for a jail term of between 10 and 12 weeks, saying that his client is truly remorseful for his actions.

He added that Koh was "a responsible man with no past records”, who had momentarily lost control due to panic. 

District Judge Mathew Joseph found the case both " tragic and unfortunate”. 

He said that the incident serves to remind motorists to be attentive whenever they go behind the wheel. 

For causing the deaths due to negligent driving, Koh could have been jailed for up to two years and fined.