Teen e-scooter rider who hit elderly man gets 15 months' probation

The accident left 78-year-old Wong Ah Jee with a fractured skull.
An e-scooter rider seen outside Kallang Wave Mall. (Yahoo News Singapore file photo)

A teenage e-scooter rider who collided with an elderly man was sentenced to 15 months’ supervised probation on Wednesday (17 October).

Ho Jun Wei, 18, hit 78-year-old Wong Ah Jee when the latter did not give way to Ho’s e-scooter while both were on a pedestrian pavement in Yishun. The accident left Wong with a fractured skull.

At the State Courts, the Institute of Technical Education College Central student pleaded guilty to one count of committing a rash act and causing grievous hurt.

Travelling at 20kmh

The accident took place at about 3.30pm on 17 February, while Wong was walking on the pavement alongside Yishun Ring Road.

Ho was riding his e-scooter along the same path at the time and spotted Wong from afar. Aware that there was not enough space along the path to ride past Wong, Ho sounded his e-scooter’s horn three times to alert the latter.

Ho had expected Wong to make way for him but the elderly man did not do so. Travelling at 20kmh at the time, Ho attempted to brake in time but ended up hitting Wong from behind.

This caused Wong to fall forward and land on his face. Ho was later arrested and his e-scooter was seized.

Fractures in five areas on head

Wong was conveyed to Khoo Teck Puat Hospital where he was found to have fractures in five areas on his head. He also suffered from abrasions on his arm, a bleeding nose and bruises on his eye.

Ho has since compensated Wong for his medical expenses.

For causing grievous hurt through a negligent act, Ho could have been jailed up to four years, fined up to $10,000, or both.

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