Man charged in hit-and-run crash that killed cyclist after allegedly driving against traffic on Nicoll Highway

SINGAPORE: A driver allegedly involved in a hit-and-run incident that killed a cyclist on the Nicoll Expressway last December was charged in court on Wednesday (Nov 6).

Tan Yong Ren, 34, was sentenced on seven charges, including dangerous driving, causing death by repeat offense and obstructing justice..

The forensic medicine court held a hearing on September 19 He said Tan was driving against traffic and was believed to have been drunk when his car collided with 45-year-old cyclist Basra Rajan Singh.

According to the indictments, Tan was previously convicted in 2012 of causing serious injury by an act that endangered the life or personal safety of others and causing death by a rash or negligent act. Court documents did not provide detailed information about the case.

Police said in a press release on Thursday: He was alerted to the accident at 5:10 a.m. on December 19, 2023.

While the cyclist was taken to the hospital unconscious, he later died due to his injuries.

“The driver did not stop to help the injured cyclist but allegedly fled the scene after the accident,” police said. “He also failed to report the accident to the police within 24 hours.”

The driver was identified through ground investigations, the assistance of a witness, and video footage from police cameras and the Land Transport Authority (LTA). He was arrested the same day.

Tan was charged with the following offenses on Wednesday:

• Dangerous driving as a repeat offender
• Dangerous driving causing death as a repeat offender
• Not being able to stop after an accident
• Failure to report the accident within 24 hours
• Moving the vehicle without the permission of a police officer
• No aid was given to the injured
• Obstructing the course of justice.

The cyclist, from the UK, was cycling along the Nicoll Highway towards Guillemard Road in the early hours of December 19 last year.

Footage from a Land Transport Authority camera showed a vehicle driving against the flow of traffic along the Nicoll Highway towards Rochor, the coroner’s court heard two months ago.

In the footage, Mr Singh was seen riding the bike and trying to avoid hitting the car, but his effort was in vain. As a result of the head-on collision, Mr Singh was thrown upwards before landing on the road.

According to the investigating officer, Tan said he “fell asleep for a moment” before the collision.

For repeat offenses, he could be sentenced to between four and 15 years in prison for dangerous driving causing death.

If convicted of dangerous driving for a repeat offense, he could face a fine of up to S$10,000, imprisonment of up to two years, or both. May be responsible for the seizure of the vehicle involved.

These two offenses also carry a ban from driving all classes of vehicles.

Failure to stop after an accident, failure to report the accident within 24 hours, and moving the vehicle without permission from a police officer each carry a fine of up to S$1,000, imprisonment of up to three months, or both.