Car crash into Marine Terrace Market stall, Beatty secondary school vice-principal sent to jail

Singapore – Lim Soon Wai, the vice-principal of Beatty Secondary School, was sentenced to 10 days in prison on December 26, 2018, as well as a 2.5-year disqualification from driving for causing grievous damages due to negligent driving.

Last year, on December 9 at around 12:30 pm, three people were injured in a flower shop located at Marine Terrace Market when a car suddenly crashed into the shop. Florist Yeo Lee Eng, 58, was knocked unconscious because of the accident. She also fractured her right ankle and shoulder. Stall assistant Zhuo Zheng Hai, 66, was sent flying to one side of the stall because of the impact which also crushed his left foot leading to the amputation of the middle toe and permanent disability. The last to be injured was a domestic helper who was left with bruises.

The three injured victims were taken to Changi General Hospital immediately after the incident.

As for the driver of the vehicle, it was only a year after that his identity was finally revealed.

Lim Soon Wai, the vice-principal of Beatty Secondary School in Toa Payoh North, said his he was trying to park his car in reverse but bumped the curb so he changed gears to move forward. It was at this moment that he lost control of his car and made it accelerate on its own, a similar scenario called “sudden unintended acceleration” that Mitsubishi Monteros are experiencing in the Philippines.

Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Angela Ang however, confirmed that the car has been checked and that no technical or mechanical errors and faults were found.

Lim is also a staff member of the Ministry of Education (MOE. According to a representative, the organization “will review the case based on our internal disciplinary processes”. The spokesman added that “MOE takes a serious view of misconduct by our staff, and will not hesitate to take disciplinary action against those who fail to adhere to our standards of conduct and discipline.”

The first video was first submitted to Stomp via Stomper Raj who was a resident in the area.