10 months’ jail for lorry driver who fatally hit elderly woman at zebra crossing – The Straits Times

SINGAPORE – A lorry driver with a history of errant driving hit a 79-year-old woman who was walking across a zebra crossing in Marine Parade.
Ms Bernadette Mah Sui Har died from a head injury on the same day in February.
On Dec 20, the driver, Indian national Sivalingam Suresh, 40, was sentenced to 10 months’ jail after pleading guilty to one charge of driving without due care and attention causing death.
He will also be disqualified from holding or obtaining all classes of driving licences for eight years after his release. 
Deputy Public Prosecutor Benedict Teong said Sivalingam was on his work shift at about 11.30am on Feb 28 and was driving his lorry along Marine Terrace towards Marine Crescent.
The prosecutor said Sivalingam failed to notice Ms Mah as he approached a zebra crossing alongside Ngee Ann Primary School, colliding into her.
Ms Mah was taken to Changi General Hospital.
A scan revealed she had suffered multiple injuries, including a skull fracture and bleeding on the surface of her brain.
She was pronounced dead at about 7pm.
DPP Teong noted that the traffic flow was light and the road surface damp at the time of the accident. He also said the weather was fine with good visibility.
There was no evidence to suggest that possible mechanical failure of the lorry – which was sent for a mechanical inspection after the accident – could have caused or contributed to the accident.
DPP Teong asked the court to sentence Sivalingam to 10 to 11 months’ jail and impose a driving ban of eight years.
He cited Sivalingam’s history of driving offences, which included inconsiderate driving and failure to conform to a red light.
During his mitigation plea, Sivalingam, who did not have a lawyer, expressed his remorse at causing the death of the elderly woman.
He said he was the breadwinner of his family in India. They include his two-year-old son and wife who severed her hand in an accident.
“It depends on me to support my family by driving in Singapore. I’m very reliant on this job, Your Honour,” he said.
For causing death by driving a vehicle without due care and attention, Sivalingam could have been jailed for up to three years and fined up to $10,000.
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