In a span of less than a day, a probationary driver managed to run a red light, crash into a pedestrian, badly cracked his van’s windscreen, and cause the death of a teenage passenger — who could have been saved if he called the ambulance.
The indefensible actions of 22-year-old Muhammad Nizam Abdul Karim has landed him in jail for 13 months plus a five-year driving ban after his release, The Straits Times reports. He pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, negligence not amounting to culpable homicide, drug possession and drug consumption.
His perilous affair took place on Apr 12 two years ago, when he was still a probationary driver. While driving along Bedok South Avenue 2, Nizam was driving distractedly, fiddling with his GPS, leading to a collision with 18-year-old Chua Shuen Zhi. Chua was flung a lamp post away and lost consciousness, requiring 10 stitches to his forehead.
Though the accident left the van’s front windscreen badly cracked and in need of repairs, he used the van for an outing with friends at Changi Beach. After the all-nighter, the friends got into the back of the van at 5.30am, with 16-year-old Norfatin Diana Norazlan getting in last. As she was pulling the door shut, Nizam shot off abruptly, causing the door the slide wide open and flinging her out.
The van stopped, and Norfatin’s sister and friends wanted to call for an ambulance, but Nizam refused, fearing that he could lose his licence. He carried the girl to the back of the van before driving to another carpark. Instead of taking the girl for medical attention, he went to chat up a female friend at the beach — by 7.20am, Norfatin was already turning cold.
An ambulance was called, but Norfatin was pronounced dead in hospital at 9.25am.
Already facing serious charges, Nizam was arrested again in November last year for possession and use of methamphetamine.
