SINGAPORE — A teenager who was riding an e-scooter along a pavement knocked into a 69-year-old woman on her way to a polyclinic, causing the victim to fall backwards, a court heard.

As a result of the accident on 11 March, the victim had a compression fracture on her spine and feels pain every day.

At the State Courts last Friday (27 December), the errant e-scooter rider, Mohamad Danial Akid Mohamad Imran, 19, pleaded guilty to one charge of causing grievous hurt by doing a negligent act endangering human life, by failing to keep a proper lookout.

The Singaporean perpetrator is expected to be sentenced on 31 January, pending a probation suitability report.

Victim habitually checked for PMD users

According to court documents made available on Monday (30 December), the victim Cheng Joo Yin, 69, went for a stroll as part of her morning routine at about 7am on 11 March. Thereafter, she walked towards Jurong Polyclinic for a medical consultation.

“As she was walking along the pavement (near Block 329 Jurong East Avenue 1), she turned her head, as a matter of habit, to check for cyclists or e-scooter riders,” said Deputy Public Prosecutor Mansoor Amir.

“When she turned to face the front again, at about 8.16am, she saw that the accused and his e-scooter was already very close to her,” he added.

The victim used both her hands to block the e-scooter, which crashed into her. She fell backwards upon impact and felt pain at her lower back.

Teen didn’t exercise reasonable diligence

DPP Mansoor said Danial, who was 18 at the time, “failed to exercise reasonable diligence in keeping a proper lookout” for pedestrians walking along the pavement while riding his e-scooter, which was compliant with the requirements of the Active Mobility Act.

“He also knew that in order not to endanger others, he should reduce the speed of his e-scooter but did not do so at the time. Arising from his failure to keep a proper lookout while riding his e-scooter along the pavement, the accuse collided into the victim,” the prosecutor added.

The victim was initially treated at the accident and emergency department at the National University Hospital. An x-ray showed anterior wedging of the L2 vertebrae or a compression fracture.

She was hospitalised for pain management and rehabilitation, and discharged the next day. The victim’s daughter then made a police report.

As of 24 June, the victim feels pain on her lower back every day, and has to sit down after standing for more than two hours due to pain, the court heard.

The maximum punishment Danial faces for causing grievous hurt by a negligent act endangering human life is up to two years’ jail along with a fine of up to $5,000.

In the wake of a rise in the number of accidents involving e-scooters and pedestrians, along with stronger calls from the public for the ban of such devices on shared spaces, the government announced last month that e-scooters would no longer be allowed on footpaths.

From Wednesday (1 January), there will be strict enforcement of the ban, with those caught flouting it liable to a fine of up to $2,000 and/or up to three month’s jail.

The ban will not apply to personal mobility aids such as motorised wheelchairs and mobility scooters. Bicycles will also still be allowed on footpaths. The ban against e-bikes or power-assisted bicycles on footpaths has been in effect since May last year.

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