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Man, 61, jailed for colliding with woman on his unregistered e-scooter, fracturing her skull

Man in e-scooter
(PHOTO: Getty Images)

SINGAPORE — A 61-year-old man was riding an unregistered e-scooter to meet a potential buyer when he rode into a 24-year-old woman who was trying to cross the road.

Chen Yue, a Chinese national, had not registered the personal mobility device, as he intended to sell it a few days after buying it in September last year.

In October last year, however, he mowed down the female victim after riding against the flow of traffic, knocking her unconscious by the side of the road. The woman suffered a fracture on her skull that extended to her face, as well as a scar above her lips and loose teeth.

Chen was jailed for six weeks and fined $500 on Friday (21 August), after pleading guilty to one count each of rash act causing grievous hurt and riding an unregistered personal mobility device on a footpath along Selegie Road.

One count of riding the e-scooter on the road, which is prohibited under the Road Traffic Act, was taken into consideration for sentencing.

Collision along Selegie Road

Chen had bought the black Windart e-scooter, which had a permissible weight and handle bar width, in September 2019. Despite knowing that he was required to have it registered, he did not do so as he had intended to sell it in a few days.

However, it was not until the next month that he found a potential buyer. On 23 October, he rode his e-scooter from Kinta Road towards Dhoby Ghaut MRT Station to meet the buyer at about 4pm.

After encountering heavy foot traffic while riding along the footpath of Selegie Road, Chen decided to move onto the road, against the flow of vehicles. He rode along the road at about 15kmh.

Even though he had an unobstructed view of the footpath on his right, he did not notice the victim standing there. After waiting for traffic to clear, the woman stepped onto the road at about 4.10pm, only for Chen to ride directly into her.

The woman fell face down onto the ground, and remained motionless and bleeding from her mouth and face. Chen had experienced an impact on his right arm, and when he looked back, he saw the victim on the ground.

He carried her onto the footpath where a crowd of pedestrians gathered. One of the pedestrians called the police and ambulance for assistance at Block 8 Wilkie Road.

Victim still experiences giddiness

Although Chen also sustained a laceration on his left knee, he refused medical attention, only letting paramedics bandage his injury.

The woman on the other hand sustained bruises, abrasion, lacerations on her lips, and a fracture on her skull which extended across her face. She underwent physiotherapy and occupational therapy before being discharged three days later. She was also given hospital leave of 31 days.

Her incurred medical fees were fully covered by insurance, however Chen also volunteered $8,000 in compensation.

The victim said she still experiences occasional giddiness and has a scar above her lips. Her teeth also became loose, requiring a check-up every six months. She intends to seek physiotherapy and acupuncture after the pandemic.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Grace Teo said that Chen was speeding in a crowded place at a speed which exceeded the maximum permitted.

“The victim suffered a serious head injury. The fact that she fractured her skull could have been potentially life-threatening. The fact that she continues to experience occasional giddiness and intends to seek further treatment... speaks to lingering consequences of the collision on her life,” said the prosecution in her submissions to the court.

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