SINGAPORE – In a shocking turn of events, a bus driver was slapped with a hefty $5,000 fine and a five-year driving ban after triggering a massive six-vehicle crash that resulted in serious injuries to a lorry passenger and left 16 others in distress.

33-year-old Saddam Ladah, a Malaysian national, admitted guilt to the charge of driving without due care, leading to grievous injuries, particularly to Mr. Lor Kian Meng, a 49-year-old passenger in the affected lorry.

The Series of Events That Unfolded

The disastrous incident occurred on November 29, 2024, around 8 AM, as Saddam operated a Malaysian-registered bus along the busy Bukit Timah Expressway (BKE). Despite moderate traffic and clear visibility, the rain-slicked road proved treacherous.

As Saddam failed to maintain proper vigilance, he collided with the rear of a lorry that had halted for traffic. This reckless maneuver sent the lorry veering into another lane, creating a domino effect that struck a stationary car ahead and subsequently collided with another lorry.

Injuries and Aftermath

The chaotic pile-up left Mr. Lor with serious spinal fractures, rib injuries, and severe bruising, requiring him to seek urgent medical attention at the Woodlands Health Emergency Department. Thankfully, after receiving outpatient care, he was given 28 days of hospital leave to recover.

The collision left visible damage; both the bus and the initial lorry suffered shattered windscreens, and significant body damage.

Legal Fallout

During sentencing, Deputy Public Prosecutor Colin Ng highlighted that while Mr. Lor’s injuries were serious, they fortunately didn’t require surgical intervention, which led to a lower consideration of culpability. He emphasized that the case warranted substantial penalties due to the multiple injuries, but acknowledged Ladah's readiness to plead guilty early in the proceedings.

Saddam could have faced two years in prison and a fine, but his fate was sealed with the maximum financial penalty and driving ban. The law mandates that offenders in such cases must be disqualified from holding a driving license for a minimum of five years unless special circumstances warrant otherwise.