A tragic accident on the Pan Island Expressway (PIE) left 21-year-old Michael Ong dead after the van he was in crashed into a truck.
The driver was just 18 years old at the time and had neither a valid license nor insurance. He was charged in court on Wednesday (September 17) for causing death by driving without due care.
The crash occurred on December 31, 2023, at approximately 7:38 am, along the PIE towards Tuas, after the Jalan Jurong Kechil exit. Ong, who was seated in the front passenger seat, died from severe neck injuries.
According to Lianhe Zaobao, court documents revealed that the accused, now 20, lost control of the van and collided with a truck. The van overturned from the impact, trapping both the van driver and the passenger inside. Ong died at the scene, while the driver was taken to the hospital conscious.
Investigations also found that the accused was allegedly driving without a licence and without insurance. He was also accused of illegally using the van to ferry passengers. The passenger was neither the owner nor the hirer of the vehicle, and the accused was not performing any work-related duties when the incident happened.
It was later revealed that the accused’s colleague, who knew he did not have a licence, still handed him the company van. The accused then used a Telegram group to find passengers and accepted Ong’s booking.
A coroner said dashcam footage showed the van approaching the truck from behind before suddenly swerving right, likely to overtake or avoid a collision. But due to the accused’s lack of experience, he may have misjudged the speed, causing the crash into the truck’s rear side.
If convicted, the accused may face up to three years in jail, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. He could also be banned from driving for eight years.
The case has been adjourned to Oct 24 for a pre-trial conference.
