Man jailed for fatal accident while kick-starting motorcycle

A man was trying to kick-start his brother's motorcycle along a pavement when it surged forward and hit an elderly pedestrian.

The 72-year-old woman, Madam Ang Siew Eng, died of head injuries four days later.

Yesterday, Lim Yang Lian, 54, was jailed for two weeks and banned from riding and driving for three years for failing to keep a proper lookout, resulting in the motorcycle hitting Madam Ang.

She was walking on the pavement at Block 727, Clementi West Street 2, on May 29 last year.

The court heard that Lim had problems starting his brother's motorcycle due to a faulty battery that day. He decided to kick-start the engine when the motocycle was still on the pavement.

On his third attempt, the motorcycle surged forward. Lim lost control of it and was unable to brake.

The motorcycle hit Madam Ang who was walking across the pavement several metres away.

She fell backwards and landed on her head.

A doctor from the Family Life Clinic nearby came and gave first aid to Madam Ang.

Lim's lawyer Goh Peck San said Lim did not anticipate that there were people walking past in front of the motorcycle. Pleading for a fine, he said Lim was remorseful and deeply sorry for what had happened.

Lim, who had a previous conviction for rash driving in 1978, could have been jailed for up to two years and fined for causing death by a negligent act.

This article was first published on May 17, 2016.
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