SINGAPORE: A 65—year—old taxi driver, who was involved in a
collision with a Ministry of Defence (Mindef) land—rover, has sued
the Government in the High Court after the accident left him
paralysed from the neck down.
Mr Choy Yue Leong, who was ferrying his last passenger during a
night shift, was driving along Jalan Bahar towards Lim Chu Kang on
April 3 last year at around 5.45am when the collision occurred.
The land—rover was travelling in the opposite direction and
making a right turn at the time. The collision seriously damaged
both vehicles and has left Mr Choy hospitalised since.
Mr Choy, through his lawyers S. Selvaraj and Daniel Atticus Xu
from MyintSoe and Selvaraj, alleged the collision was caused by the
land—rover driver’s "sole negligence". The Mindef driver, who is 22
years old, had allegedly failed to keep any proper lookout and
drove at an excess speed, among other things.
As a result, Mr Choy "has suffered personal injuries and
consequential loss", Mr Selvaraj argued.
A National University Hospital (NUH) medical report said Mr Choy
"will be permanently disabled from the accident".
The Attorney—General, who is acting on behalf of the
Government in the civil suit, has denied the claims. The
traffic light at the road junction indicated a red light with green
turning arrow in the land—rover driver’s favour, argued State
Counsel Lim Sai Nei.
As the Mindef driver was making a right turn into the Pan—Island
Expressway, Ms Lim said Mr Choy’s taxi "suddenly collided into the
front left portion of the Government vehicle". The accident was
"wholly caused by the negligence of the Plaintiff in the driving,
use, management and control" of his taxi, the AG argued in its
defence filed in the High Court.
An interlocutory judgment has been entered which means both
sides will share liability for the collision.
A further pre—trial conference has been set for May 15. As the
suit is heard before the High Court, Mr Choy’s claim will exceed
$250,000.
When the collision occurred, the road surface was dry, the
weather was clear and traffic volume was light. A passenger whom Mr
Choy was ferrying was asleep when the collision occurred.
The land—rover’s driver and four passengers were brought to a
hospital. It is not known if the land—rover driver has been dealt
with by the authorities.
After spending six months in NUH, Mr Choy was transferred to Ang
Mo Kio—Thye Hua Kwan Hospital last November for further
rehabilitation.
When MediaCorp visited Mr Choy, 65, on Wednesday night, the
former cabbie tried to speak, but his voice was barely audible. He
also needed help for simple tasks — for example, a family member
had to help roll him over to prevent bed sores from developing.
Mr Choy’s son, Patrick, told MediaCorp that his father was
finishing his shift when the collision occurred. He had also been
driving a taxi for more than 20 years, Patrick added.
The family has had a trying time since the accident — not only
are the cabbie’s medical bills mounting, Mr Choy’s wife was also
diagnosed with breast cancer last December and is now undergoing
treatment. — TODAY