A 30-year-old man was arrested yesterday on suspicion of driving an Audi car that spun out of control in Simei Avenue on Tuesday morning – crashing into seven other vehicles and causing a 1½-hour jam along the three-lane road.
The driver, who has not been named, was seen running away from the scene after the 9.15am pile-up near the Institute of Technical Education College East campus.
A 65-year-old woman, a passenger in another car involved, suffered pain in her stomach and back after the accident and was warded at Changi General Hospital.
Police said yesterday that the accident “occurred when the driver of a silver saloon car failed to exercise proper control of his vehicle”.
The Traffic Police established his identity through “intensive investigations” and he was arrested in the vicinity of the National University Hospital. His driving licence will be suspended and police are continuing their investigations.
Witnesses said the driver had been speeding and was overtaking when his car collided with other vehicles and swerved towards the road divider. Mr Rajan Shirodkhar, 48, a vice-president of technology at OCBC Bank, said he was driving to work when the silver Audi hit the rear wheel and side of his car.
“His act yesterday (Tuesday) did not look like what any normal person would have done,” he said. “A fair trial should be held to see how we can be compensated fairly.”
Meanwhile, the police have arrested a 29-year-old man on Tuesday who was believed to have also fled on foot after causing an accident in Jurong Town Hall Road two weeks ago.
He had allegedly been driving a white Honda multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) on the afternoon of July 31, when it collided with a motorcyclist, causing him to be flung onto the road.
The MPV then crashed into the rear of another car, causing it to jerk forward, hitting the rear of a van.
The motorcylist had to be taken to hospital.
“It was established subsequently that the MPV that caused the accident was affixed with a false number plate,” the police said.
The Traffic Police managed to identify the driver and arrested him in the vicinity of Hougang Street 21 for both traffic and drug offences, in a joint operation with the Central Narcotics Bureau.
Under the law, motorists involved in an accident in which a person or animal is injured, or where another vehicle or structure is damaged, have to stop their vehicles. They must also render the necessary assistance.
If the vehicle owner is not present at the scene, the motorist should take reasonable steps to inform him of the accident, such as by leaving a note on the damaged vehicle’s windscreen.
The motorist should also lodge a police report as soon as it is practical to do so and within 24 hours, unless he is able to establish contact with the vehicle owner.
The penalty for hit-and-run accidents is a fine of up to $3,000 or up to 12 months’ jail. Repeat offenders face a fine of up to $5,000 or up to two years’ jail.
Source: www.straitstimes.com
