| On 16 May 2014, at about 7.50 a.m., 50-year old Koh Ah Hong was driving a Toyota Vios sedan on the left lane of Woodlands Avenue 5 in the direction of Woodlands Avenue 9. Near the signalised traffic junction of Woodlands Ave 6, she noticed a cyclist travelling ahead of her on the left lane of the carriageway. The cyclist was near the entrance of a Condominium construction site, about 100 metres downstream from the junction. The cyclist waved to some foreign workers, and then cycled to the centre lane. In the meantime, Koh crossed the traffic junction. As she travelled past the entrance of the construction site, the cyclist unexpectedly switched back to the left lane, into the path of her car. Koh braked but was unable to stop her car in time. The collision caused the cyclist to fall onto the roadway. He passed away before the ambulance arrived. |
Koh Ah Hong was charged with causing death by a negligent act under section 304(b) of the Penal Code.
The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) issued a forensic report on 6 November 2014 indicating that the collision was very likely to be avoidable if Koh had been travelling at the speed limit of 60 km/h, and had a perception-time of 0.25 second.
The Forensic Experts Group (TFEG) was engaged to review the HSA report, analyse video footage from Koh’s car, and evaluate the driver’s statement, police sketch plan, scene photographs and reports in order to provide a second expert opinion. On 16 September 2015, TFEG issued a report with key findings and conclusions which were significantly different from HSA’s report.
After TFEG issued its report, on 6 November 2015, on the eve of the second tranche of the trial, HSA issued a second report. HSA’s second report stated that it was in response to the TFEG Report, and revealed further details on their methods, input values and interpretations.
During the 2nd tranche of the trial, on 11 November 2015, the DPP re-amended the charge to “did drive without reasonable consideration for other road users, to wit, by driving at a speed in excess of the prescribed road speed limit of 60 kmph” and “failing to give way to a pedal cyclist”, causing the collision which resulted in the death of the cyclist and committing an offence punishable under section 65(b) of the Road Traffic Act, Chapter 276. The examination in chief of the HSA scientist was conducted during the 2nd tranche of the trial.
On 25 July 2016, TFEG issued a second report, highlighting numerous issues regarding HSA’s methodology, assumptions, interpretation and use of scientific literature underpinning their conclusions.
During the 3rd tranche of the trial in August 2016, the HSA scientist was cross-examined and re-examined. TFEG’s scientist will take the stand in the next tranche in 2017.