E-scooter rider charged over death of elderly cyclist in Bedok
SINGAPORE — An e-scooter rider who collided with and killed a 65-year-old cyclist in Bedok was charged in court on Monday (11 November).
Hung Kee Boon, 20, was charged with one count of causing the death of Ong Bee Eng, a logistics packer, through a rash act on the cycling path near Block 539, Bedok North Street 3, on 21 September this year.
The Malaysian is also accused of two breaches of the Active Mobility Act by riding a non-compliant and unregistered personal mobility device (PMD).
A Singapore permanent resident, Hung allegedly rode his e-scooter at a speed of at least 26kmh to 28kmh while approaching an intersection at 10.23pm, where he collided with Ong. His e-scooter weighed 44.2kg and had a 725mm-long handle bar, which was in contravention of the Active Mobility Act.
The permissible weight limit for PMDs, bicycles and power-assisted bicycles is 20kg.
Ong went into a coma at Changi General Hospital’s Surgical Intensive Care Unit after the incident and later died on 25 September. She had suffered a serious brain injury and fractures to her collarbone and ribs.
Hung told the court that he will be applying for a lawyer through the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme. He will return to court on 25 November.
If convicted of causing a death through a rash act, Hung may be jailed up to five years and fined.
E-scooters were banned from footpaths on 5 November this year, confining riders to 440km of cycling paths instead of the 5,500km of footpaths they could use before.
Those who breach the new rules face up to a fine of $2,000 or a jail term of up to three months.
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