Kyaw Min Tun was employed by ground handler dnata at the time of the accident. - Photo: ST
SINGAPORE: A negligent driver of a baggage tractor was fined S$4,000 on Tuesday (Jan 7) for his role in an accident at Changi Airport that caused a woman sitting on a wheelchair on board a shuttle bus to suffer a fractured finger.
Kyaw Min Tun, 39, who was employed by ground handler dnata at the time of the accident, had pleaded guilty to one charge of causing grievous hurt by a negligent act.
Another charge related to causing hurt was taken into consideration during his sentencing.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Intan Suhaily Abu Bakar said Kyaw Min Tun was driving the baggage tractor at about 10pm on March 11, 2024, and unloaded some of what he was carrying at the baggage handling area located at an airside bay at Terminal 1.
He then exited the bay and headed out to the main road without keeping a proper lookout for oncoming vehicles.
The driver of the shuttle bus, which was on its way to Terminal 1 from Terminal 4, applied the brakes but did not manage to stop in time and collided with the baggage tractor.
As a result of the collision, some of the passengers in the shuttle bus lost their balance. A 63-year-old Norwegian woman and her husband, who were both on wheelchairs in the bus, were also impacted.
The man’s wheelchair was pushed against the side of the bus, while his wife’s wheelchair was pushed against his.
The woman went to the emergency department at Changi General Hospital where she was found to have bruises on her right wrist and left shoulder, and swelling over her left arm.
An X-ray revealed a fracture on her right little finger.
She was given 22 days of medical leave.
Kyaw Min Tun was arrested on Nov 25, 2024, and released on bail on the same day.
DPP Intan asked the court to impose a fine of between $4,000 and $5,000, citing the harm caused to the victim and the property damage caused to the bus. The cost of its repair was about $7,700.
The prosecutor added: “The accused displayed a high degree of careless behaviour. He was aware that he was driving out of the baggage handling area to the main road.
“Despite that, he did not keep a proper lookout for any oncoming vehicles on the main road.” - The Straits Times/ANN
