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SINGAPORE – A trailer that struck a Malaysian motorcyclist on the Seletar Expressway last year was unable to stop in time to avoid the fatal accident, according to a forensic investigation into the man’s death heard on Wednesday (September 23).
The 45-year-old trailer driver told investigators he was driving at less than 60 km / h just before the accident that killed Heng Lay Peng, who worked as a carpenter.
Tan Hock Choon, a friend of Heng’s family members, was in the audience to represent them. They were in Malaysia and were unable to attend due to the country’s movement control order amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
On December 16 last year, Heng was on his way to work traveling down the Seletar Highway to the Bukit Timah Highway when he collided with a car in front of him. The 45-year-old man was thrown onto the path of the trailer.
A video of the accident was widely shared online, prompting Heng’s family to plead with people to stop spreading it.
According to the autopsy findings, Heng died from multiple injuries that coincided with a motor vehicle collision.
The presence of an antihistamine drug was also found within Heng’s body, which could possibly have caused drowsiness and affected a person’s driving alertness.
An investigating officer testified about what happened on the day of the accident.
In addition to Heng’s motorcycle, the accident involved two cars and the trailer.
At 8:45 a.m. on December 16 of last year, the first car was traveling in the far right lane of the three-lane highway when it slowed due to heavy traffic ahead.
A second car behind him, driven by a 30-year-old Singaporean woman, collided with his rear. The woman told investigators that she was heading to work in the first lane, traveling between 80 and 90 km / h when she saw the car in front of her abruptly brake. She did not claim mechanical failures in her car.
Heng, who was riding his motorcycle behind, collided with the left rear of the second car and was thrown into the center lane, causing the right rear tire of the trailer to run over Heng.
The trailer driver, also a Malaysian, told investigators he was returning to Malaysia after completing a delivery in Singapore. Although he was initially in the third or left lane, he had switched to the middle lane because he wanted to pass some slow buses. He said he intended to revert to the left-most lane.
Less than a minute had passed before the trailer driver checked his right rear view mirror and saw Heng brake and collide with a car. He then saw Heng swerving into his lane and landing on the right front of the trailer, hitting Heng.
The driver stopped his trailer 1 km away and returned to the scene. Nor did he claim any mechanical failure in his vehicle.
Two videos were played in court, taken from the front and rear cameras of the first car, as well as another video filmed by a witness’s car camera.
When asked if Tan had any concerns to raise, he said the Investigating Officer (IO) had told him a few weeks ago that the amount of antihistamine found in Heng’s body was so small that it shouldn’t affect the functioning of an person. Tan asked if the piece could be removed from the report.
In response, the IO said it mentioned the amount of the drug to Tan and that a doctor had opined that the drug might cause drowsiness.
State Coroner Kamala Ponnampalam added that the detail would also be included in the findings, but that it would not affect the cause of Heng’s death.
Tan said that Heng had worked in Singapore for about 20 years and had never committed any infractions except for a few minor parking infractions. It also raised other concerns.
“First of all, as we determine cause of death today, we hope that all qualifying facts have been obtained, investigated and seriously presented in court.
“Second, the family understands that today is not a troubleshooting session. However, they hope that today it does not affect the potential liabilities of the parties involved in an accident that caused them so much undue mental and emotional stress. “
The findings on Heng’s death will be delivered on Thursday.
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