Jailed: Truck driver who ploughed into group of e-bikers, killing 2
In October 2016, a prime mover driver ploughed into a group of motorised bicyclists along West Coast Highway.
At the time of the accident, which left two dead and one injured, Sahadevan Senguttuvan had been on the job for nearly 17 hours.
The 36-year-old was sentenced to 12 weeks’ jail and banned from driving for five years at the State Courts on Thursday (13 December). He had pleaded guilty a day earlier to two counts of causing death by a negligent act and one charge of causing hurt by a negligent act.
A State Coroner last year found that Sahadevan had likely dozed off while behind the wheel.
Long day on the job
According to court documents, the accident happened at about 11.55pm on 27 October 2016.
Shahadevan was driving on along the leftmost lane of the West Coast Highway before West Coast Park heading towards Telok Blangah. He had wanted to drive the motor trailer to Keppel District.
Having started work at about 7.20am that day, Sahadevan took breaks of 15 to 30 minutes for breakfast, lunch and dinner. He also had an hour’s rest between 9pm and 10pm.
Cyclists Marcus Loke Teck Soon, 17, Ong Zi Quan, 18, and Ang Yee Fong, 25, were riding their power-assisted bicycles (PAB) in a single file, ahead of Sahadevan’s trailer.
Loke was leading the pack and Ang was at the back. They were going to visit Loke’s grandmother in Telok Blangah.
Sahadevan failed to keep a proper lookout and did not notice any of the three PAB users. He ran over Ang, who was pinned and dragged by the trailer along the road, together with his e-bicycle.
Loke saw the prime mover closing in and motioned for Ong to ride faster alongside him. Sahadevan then swerved to the right in a bid to avoid the duo, but failed to avoid a collision.
Loke was thrown off his PAB and fell onto the left side of the road. Ong and his e-bicycle were pinned under and dragged by the trailer along the road.
Ang was dislodged and found behind the trailer. He was pronounced dead at the scene by a paramedic at 12.24am.
Ong died in hospital from his injuries at 1.05am.
Loke suffered bruises on his left leg, lower back and both hands. He was seen by a psychiatrist for grief reaction in light of the death of his two close friends and given eight days of hospitalisation leave.
For causing death by a negligent act, Sahadevan could have been jailed for up to two years and fined per charge. For causing hurt by a negligent act, he could have been jailed for up to six months and fined up to $2,500.
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