Tragic Accident Claims Life of Esteemed Professor

A routine drive took a devastating turn on July 7, 2023, when Natarajan Mohanraj, a 28-year-old construction worker, glanced at his phone while behind the wheel of his lorry. The distraction led to a horrific accident that claimed the life of Emeritus Professor Tan Yock Lin, a 70-year-old law professor at the National University of Singapore.

Driver's Disregard for Safety

Despite receiving a notice from the Traffic Police in June 2023 to surrender his driving license, Natarajan continued to drive. Just weeks before the deadline, he was involved in an incident on Upper Thomson Road where his lorry veered onto the opposite side, crashing into Professor Tan's car and causing a multi-vehicle collision.

A Life Lost and Legal Consequences

Professor Tan suffered multiple severe injuries, including skull fractures, and tragically died later that day despite rescue efforts that took over an hour. The repercussions for Natarajan were severe: on August 29, 2025, he was sentenced to two years and one month in prison along with a $2,000 fine after pleading guilty to causing death through careless driving.

Continued Offenses After Revocation

Shockingly, even after his license was revoked, Natarajan was caught driving a lorry on two separate occasions in 2024. Once in January—with permission from the vehicle's owner—and again in May without any permission. His disregard for the law only compounded the gravity of his previous actions.

Defense Arguments and Court Rulings

During court proceedings, defense attorney Sarbrinder Singh argued for a lighter sentence, claiming the crash was due to a momentary lapse of judgment and not a pattern of reckless driving. Natarajan expressed remorse and highlighted that he lost his job due to the incident.

A Life Marked by Tragedy and Regret

The case stands as a harrowing reminder of the serious consequences of distracted driving. Natarajan's tragic lapse led to irreversible damage, not only to himself but to the esteemed life of Professor Tan, demonstrating how a split-second mistake can forever change lives.