Man charged in connection with hit-and-run crash on Nicoll Highway that killed a cyclist who allegedly rode against traffic

SINGAPORE: A driver allegedly involved in a collision that killed a cyclist along Nicoll Highway last December was charged in court on Wednesday (Nov 6).

Tan Yong Ren, 34, was hit with seven charges, including dangerous driving causing death as a repeat offender and obstruction of justice.

A coroner’s court heard on September 19 that Tan was driving against traffic and was believed to be drunk when his car collided with 45-year-old cyclist Basra Rajan Singh.

According to the indictment, Tan was previously convicted in 2012 of causing serious injury by an act endangering the life or personal safety of others, and of causing death by a rash or negligent act. Court documents provided no details about the case.

The police reported this in its press release on Thursday notified of the accident at 5:10 a.m. on December 19, 2023.

The cyclist was taken unconscious to hospital, where he later died from his injuries.

“The driver did not stop to provide assistance to the injured cyclist, but took off after the accident,” police said. “He also did not report it to the police within 24 hours.”

The identity of the driver was established through ground searches and with the help of a witness and video footage from police cameras and the Land Transport Authority (LTA). He was arrested the same day.

Tan was charged on Wednesday with the following crimes:

• Dangerous driving behavior as a repeat offender
• Dangerous driving resulting in death as a repeat offender
• Not being able to stop after an accident
• Failure to report an accident within 24 hours
• Moving the vehicle without the permission of a police officer
• Failure to provide assistance to the injured
• Obstructing the course of justice.

The cyclist, from the United Kingdom, cycled along 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 Nicoll Highway towards Rochor, a coroner heard two months ago.

It showed Mr Singh riding a bicycle and trying to avoid a collision with the car, but in vain. The head-on collision caused Mr Singh to be thrown upwards before he landed on the road.

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

For dangerous driving causing death as a repeat offender, he could receive a prison sentence of between four and fifteen years.

If convicted of dangerous driving as a repeat offender, he could be fined up to S$10,000, imprisoned for up to two years, or both. The car involved may be liable for forfeiture.

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

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