Speeding driver who crashed into motorcyclist picking fruits on Rifle Range Road jailed 2 weeks on appeal

The High Court has sentenced a man to two weeks' jail, overturning a fine of $8,000 by the district court on appeal by the prosecution.

Able Wang Ziyi was convicted for careless driving causing grievous hurt after crashing into three motorcycles parked on Rifle Range Road on the night of July 6, 2021, and injuring one of the owners.

According to court documents, Wang slowed down as he approached a bend, but due to the road conditions being wet, lost control of his car and crashed into a guardrail where the motorcycles were.

The owners had parked there illegally to trespass onto state land to pick fruit.

Wong Chong Ming, one of the motorcyclists, was standing nearby and got hit by either a motorcycle or the car, suffering deep cuts to his left leg. 

He was hospitalised for nine days and had to undergo two surgeries.

Wang previously appealed the $8,000 fine and five-year driving ban he received, wishing for it to be reduced to a $4,000 fine.

The appeal failed, and the prosecution counter-appealed.

New judgement

In a Nov 6 judgement, Justice See Kee Oon of the Appellate Division said that the original judgement was "wrong in principle and manifestly inadequate".

While the district court judge previously ruled that Wang travelling at 53kmh was not "excessive speed", Justice See disagreed.

He concurred with the prosecution that speeding should have been considered an additional culpability factor.

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Expert analysis had found that Wang was travelling three kmh above the speed limit at that bend, but was previously driving at 71 to 97 kmh. At a stretch before the bend, his speeds hit between 53kmh and 73kmh.

Wang would have, at the time of the incident, been counted as a repeat offender under the Road Traffic Act, having been convicted and paid fines twice for speeding back in 1998 and 2004. This should have doubled the maximum penalty he could have received.

Even if the previous convictions were "clearly dated", the judge said that imposing the maximum $10,000 fine would have not conveyed the gravity of Wang's actions or served as a deterrent.

Wang also had a total of 25 driving offences on record, with the most recent prior to the incident being in 2019.

Justice See also agreed with the prosecution that the three men parking illegally and trespassing had no bearing on Wang's culpability.

He delivered a judgement of two weeks' jail for Wang and upheld the five-year driving ban, which will start from when Wang leaves jail.

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drimac@asiaone.com