SINGAPORE — As she was adjusting her radio settings, Hong Yingxi failed to notice that the drivers ahead of her on the Central Expressway (CTE) were braking and so, she did not slow down.

As a result, she crashed into the back of a taxi, which lurched forward and collided into a third car. The car in turn surged forward and crashed into a fourth car.

The taxi driver ended up suffering a minor rib fracture.

On Friday (March 20), the 35-year-old property agent was ordered to pay the maximum fine of S$2,500 and disqualified from driving all classes of vehicles for 10 months.

District Judge Luke Tan noted some exceptional aspects of the case, such as Hong having had a clean driving record for more than a decade since getting her licence.

However, he told the court that vehicles travel faster on expressways and “care needs to be exercised” by drivers.

“Broadly speaking, one has to be more aware of the situation around them and of the damage that could be caused,” he added.

Hong had pleaded guilty to one charge of causing hurt by a negligent act. The offence carries up to six months’ jail, a fine of up to S$2,500 or both.

The court heard that at 2pm on April 21 last year, Hong was driving along the CTE towards Seletar Expressway when she failed to keep a proper lookout and slow down.

She did not see that the taxi driver had put his brake lights on and was moving slowly. When she crashed into the back of the taxi, the impact was so great that it caused a chain collision.

All four cars suffered damage, with the taxi’s front and rear bumpers cracking and breaking from the impact.

The taxi driver was taken to Sengkang General Hospital in an ambulance. He was discharged the next day after being treated for his rib fracture and was given nine days of hospitalisation leave.

In mitigation, Hong’s lawyer Farhan Tyebally said that she has since settled a third-party insurance claim of almost S$10,000 with the taxi driver for his medical expenses, as well as for pain and suffering.

Hong has “vowed to exercise caution so it won’t happen again” and the accident happened due to a “moment of misjudgement”, the lawyer added.

“She is cognisant that this was indeed an unfortunate accident — that she was responsible for it,” Mr Tyebally said in asking for a S$2,000 fine and a six-month driving ban.