SINGAPORE — In separate cases, two men who caused bone fractures to pedestrians while riding their electric scooters on shared paths were dealt with in court on Wednesday (Sept 11), with one getting time behind bars and the other, a fine.

Tan Gim Moh, 61, who works as a driver, was sentenced to 18 days’ jail after pleading guilty to causing grievous hurt to Ms Tan Peck Lay, 58, by a rash act last year in Yishun.

He was on an e-scooter travelling at about 20km/h to 25km/h, smoking a cigarette with one hand and controlling the device with the other, when he lost his balance and collided into Ms Tan from behind, causing her to suffer bruises and a wrist fracture.

In the other case, Tham Chee Boon, 36, pleaded guilty to causing grievous hurt by a negligent act — an offence carrying less severe penalties than Tan’s. Tham was fined S$3,500.

Tham, a paramedic, was heading home from his workplace at Woodlands Fire Station on his e-scooter when he saw Ms Yeo Eng Koong, 53, at the last moment and managed to avoid colliding into her.

However, she stumbled backwards out of surprise and hit her head on the ground. She lost consciousness for about a minute and suffered a skull fracture, eventually requiring brain surgery.

TAN’S CASE

The court heard that on Feb 25, 2018, Tan was riding his e-scooter on the bicycle lane along Yishun Ring Road.

Ms Tan, a 58-year-old part-time sales executive, was walking on the adjacent shared pathway.

When Tan noticed two pedestrians on his lane up ahead, he decided to cut over onto the shared pathway but in doing so, he failed to slow down. He then noticed Ms Tan and lost his balance as he tried to stop, ultimately knocking her down.

He and the two other pedestrians helped her to her feet. She suffered bruises on her face and knees, and asked for his contact details so that she could get medical compensation.

At first, he refused but relented when she insisted, and he agreed to compensate her. Her medical expenses later came to S$1,680.

Ms Tan went to Khoo Teck Puat Hospital to get treatment, where she was diagnosed with a wrist fracture. She was also given 48 days of hospitalisation leave.

Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Colin Ng told the court: “At the time of the investigations, the accused had disposed of his e-scooter. As a result, it was not known whether there were any modifications or faults that could have led to the collision.”

Seeking at least three weeks’ jail, the prosecutor noted a recent spate of accidents involving e-scooter riders colliding into pedestrians.

DPP Ng said that these were cases of “man versus machine”, as personal mobility device riders are allowed on shared paths and footpaths along with pedestrians. There must be “a sufficient amount of deterrence” to ensure that riders “take extra care”, he added.

In mitigation, Tan’s lawyer Ronald Ng said that it was “unfortunate” that his client swerved onto the shared path and could not stop in time.

“He deeply regrets the incident and has compensated the victim. He is himself an elderly man and suffered injuries when he fell off the e-scooter… He did not run away from the scene,” Mr Ng added, asking for a fine.

Tan could have been jailed up to four years, or fined up to S$10,000, or both.

THAM’S CASE

After ending his work shift at about 9pm on March 29 last year, Tham rode his e-scooter on a shared pathway towards a traffic junction in front of Block 362, Woodlands Avenue 5.

Ms Yeo, a Singtel compliance executive, had just crossed the road and was walking towards the pathway.

Their views were obstructed by large electrical boxes and construction barricades, and Tham was travelling at about 10km/h.

When he saw Ms Yeo stepping out from the pathway, he braked and did not collide into her but she was startled and fell to the ground, hitting her head and blacking out.

Tham immediately held her head to prevent any further injuries, assessed her condition and told a passing cyclist to call for an ambulance.

When Ms Yeo regained consciousness, she complained of dizziness and vomited a few times. She was taken to the hospital in an ambulance, where she was operated on to remove a blood clot in her brain.

She was discharged about three weeks later.

District Judge Christopher Tan called it an “atypical case”, disagreeing with the prosecution on giving Tham a jail sentence.

While he agreed that a stiff sentence should be imposed in such incidents, given the recent spate of collisions, he said that Tham had not made contact with Ms Yeo and avoided colliding into her.

“Given that it was at night and the path was dimly lit, it was difficult for the accused to see the victim from a distance and his view was obviously blocked by the electrical boxes,” the judge noted.

Tham could have been jailed up to two years, fined up to S$5,000, or both.

Since February this year, users of personal mobility device have been required by law to keep within 25km/h on shared paths and 10km/h on footpaths.