Man drives away from accident site with victim on bonnet, gets jail and driving ban

A businessman got into an accident along Old Airport Road on Jun 2, 2014, and attempted to flee, even driving off with a motorist on his bonnet when the latter tried to prevent him from leaving. 

The man, Edward Loh Teik Khoon, 49, was sentenced to eight weeks’ jail, fined $600 and banned from driving for 2 years, reports Lianhe Wanbao. 

Loh faced four charges, of which he claimed trial to three — driving recklessly as to be likely to cause hurt to Mr Edwin Heng Yong Mong, 52, failing to render assistance after causing Mr Heng to be injured, and failing to stop after the accident. 

The court heard that on the day of the incident, Mr Heng and another driver, Mr Poh Chin Aik, 42, were driving along Old Airport Road towards Joo Chiat Road before 8.20pm.

The two stopped at the traffic lights near the Dunman Road junction, with Mr Heng’s car behind Mr Poh’s.

Loh’s car suddenly rammed into the back of Mr Heng’s vehicle and caused it to move forward, hitting Mr Poh’s car. 

The impact caused Mr Heng to be thrown against his seat belt before he recoiled and hit the headrest. 

He was also disorientated, had difficulty breathing and suffered pain at the back of his head. 

Mr Poh’s spectacles fell off upon the impact, and he experienced numbness in his right hand. 

His wife who was in the front passenger seat suffered chest pain too. 

Loh attempted to flee after the collision, and Mr Heng quickly alighted and stood in front of his car to stop him from leaving. 

Loh did not stop, and court documents revealed that he had driven with Mr Heng on his bonnet in a zigzag manner for about 100m to 200m. 

Claiming that he had drunk a can of beer before the accident, Low denied driving rashly.

However, Judge Ong Ong Chin Rhu said that Loh’s manner of driving gave the distinct impression that he was trying to throw Mr Heng off his bonnet. 

Loh could have been jailed up to a year and/or fined up to $5,000 for rash driving likely to cause hurt to any person. 

The maximum penalty driving without due care and attention is a six months’ jail and a $1,000 fine. 

For failing to render assistance and failing to stop, Loh could have been fined up to $1,000 or jailed up to three months for each charge.