Driver Jailed for Causing Wall Collapse That Killed Pedestrian

 

A construction company driver has been sentenced to jail and disqualified from driving for a significant period after a reversing accident resulted in the death of a pedestrian. Ashokan Santhoshsivam, 24, pleaded guilty on September 12, 2025, to charges of driving without due care and attention and operating a vehicle without the requisite license.

The tragic incident occurred in the early hours of May 12, 2024. At approximately 2:50 a.m., Ashokan and two companions left their dormitory located at Tech Park Crescent in Tuas and drove to a food stall with the intention of getting supper. Upon finding the stall closed, Ashokan made the decision to drive the group back to their dormitory. Critically, he was operating a lorry while holding only a Class 3 driving license, which is intended for cars. Driving a lorry legally requires a Class 4 driving license, which he did not possess.

Upon returning to the dormitory at Tech Park Crescent, Ashokan began to reverse the lorry. During this maneuver, he failed to exercise due care and attention, resulting in the vehicle striking a gate. The impact of the collision caused an attached wall to collapse onto an adjacent pathway. At that precise moment, a 34-year-old Burmese man named Zaw Lin Tun was walking along the pathway. The collapsing wall struck him, resulting in fatal injuries.

The Assistant Public Prosecutor highlighted several aggravating factors in the case. He noted that Ashokan had driven the lorry for a considerable distance with passengers despite knowing he did not hold the correct license category for that vehicle class. Furthermore, by driving without the proper license, the lorry was effectively being operated without a valid insurance policy. This meant that any victims of an accident, including in this tragic case, could be left without any possibility of financial compensation for their injuries or losses.

The prosecution recommended a sentence of nine to ten and a half months' imprisonment, a fine of one thousand dollars, and a driving disqualification period of eight years. The court ultimately sentenced Ashokan to eight months' jail, an eight hundred dollar fine, and disqualified him from holding or obtaining all classes of driving licenses for eight years starting from his date of release from prison. The sentence reflects the serious consequences of driving without proper qualifications and without adequate attention to surroundings, particularly when operating large vehicles capable of causing significant damage.