Left in a vegetative state for over a year since suffering head injuries from a fallen tree branch, the man’s family is taking the National Parks Board (NParks) to High Court to seek damages for its alleged negligence, The Straits Times reported.
On July 20 last year, then 23-year-old Lee Kar Choon was flung off his motorcycle when a tree branch dropped on him while he was riding along Admiralty Road West. He lapsed into a coma from the severe traumatic brain injury, and received treatment at Khoo Teck Puat Hospital before he was transferred to KPJ Ipoh Specialist Hospital in Malaysia last November. The Malaysian man continues to receive treatment today.
His wife and sister are currently suing NParks, alleging that the accident was caused by the agency’s negligence in reasonably maintaining the trees. NParks is accused of failing to correct or warn the public of the dangerous conditions that should have been known, as well as failing to conduct proper pruning exercises to limit the environmental risks from adverse weather conditions.
In its defense, NParks stated that it actually carries out regular inspections and maintenance works on trees along Admiralty Road West, with the last pruning conducted in January last year — months before Lee’s accident. Investigations by the agency found that the cause of the branch falling was likely due to exposure to unusually stormy weather for three days up to the day of the incident, in addition to strong winds.
Nonetheless, Lee’s family is still looking for NParks to compensate for the pain, suffering and loss of amenities, as well as medical costs and loss of earnings.
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