Cyclist gets S$2,000 fine for colliding with jaywalking pedestrian, 76, who suffered hip fracture
SINGAPORE — A cyclist who collided with a jaywalking 76-year-old pedestrian, causing him to have to go through surgery and be put on more than two months of hospitalisation leave, was sentenced to a fine of S$2,000 on Monday (April 17).
Khairul’Izzat Kamarozaman, 26, pleaded guilty to one charge of committing a negligent act that endangers a person’s life or personal safety.
On April 21 in 2021, at about 11.45am, Khairul’Izzat was riding his bicycle along a straight road on Woodlands Street 31.
He saw the victim, Mr Low Chiah Yong, on a verge on the right side of the road, about to jaywalk. This was about 15m from a "No Crossing Zone" sign, which means that pedestrians cannot cross the road within 50m from the sign.
As Khairul’Izzat cycled towards the victim, the older man started crossing the road from Khairul’Izzat’s right to his left.
He expected Mr Low to maintain his walking speed and thus did not slow down. However, Mr Low slowed his pace and Khairul’Izzat was unable to brake in time.
He tried to swerve his bicycle to the right to avoid a collision but his left pedal hit Mr Low, causing him to fall and sustain injuries.
Khairul’Izzat immediately parked his bicycle by the side of the road and went over to check on Mr Low.
He then realised that the victim could not stand and escorted him to Woodlands Polyclinic. He also gave the victim his contact details.
The victim sought treatment at the polyclinic and was later transferred to Khoo Teck Puat Hospital (KTPH) by ambulance. He was warded in the hospital for about nine days.
Mr Low suffered a hip fracture, bruises on his hand and a superficial abrasion on his elbow.
He had to undergo a surgery for his hip fracture a few days later.
After his hospitalisation at KTPH, he was transferred to Yishun Community Hospital, where he was given 60 days of hospitalisation leave. He was given 70 days of hospitalisation leave in total.
CYCLIST MADE ATTEMPTS TO AVOID COLLISION
In court on Monday, Deputy Public Prosecutor Adelle Tai sought a fine of between S$1,000 and S$2,000. She said that she had considered Khairul’Izzat’s low level of culpability, seeing that there was no evidence of him speeding as he approached the victim and that he had made attempts to avoid a collision. He also stopped to render assistance to the victim, pleaded guilty early and was cooperative with the police throughout the investigations. When asked by District Judge Janet Wang about his mitigation plea, Khairul’Izzat, who was not represented by a lawyer in court, said that he was not submitting any. District Judge Wang then told him that the purpose of a mitigation plea is for the accused to seek a lighter sentence. He then said that he stopped to help the victim after the collision. District Judge Wang imposed a penalty of a S$2,000 fine. If Khairul’Izzat is unable to pay the fine, he will have to serve two weeks' jail instead. Anyone convicted of acting negligently as to endanger a person’s life or personal safety can be jailed up to two years or fined up to S$5,000, or both.
Source: TODAY
