Van driver jailed eight months over pedestrian's death
A driver was jailed for eight months yesterday over the death of a 70-year-old man who was knocked down by a light goods van.
Sentenced by District Court Judge Chua Fi-lan, Lam Tsz-chun, 28, who had pleaded guilty to one count of dangerous driving causing death, was also disqualified from driving for two years.
The court heard that Lam had ignored a traffic sign that indicated drivers should turn left, and crossed continuous double white lines to take a right turn before his van struck Lai Fuk-chun at the junction of Kwan Mun Hau and Tak Wah streets, Tsuen Wan, on the morning of March 7.
In sentencing, Judge Chua said Lam had failed to pay close attention to the traffic when the accident happened, noting that it was his first time driving in the area.
'The defendant was guilty of not paying attention at a place where he should have been particularly careful and alert,' the judge said.
Notified that Lam had accumulated 12 traffic citations between 2003 and last year, Judge Chua said his record should be considered as an aggravating factor in sentencing.
The court heard that there was a left-turn road sign on Tak Wah Street and a conspicuous left-turn marking painted on the street.
At about 10am, Lai was walking hand-in-hand with his 56-year-old wife, Chiu Suet-fong, who had very poor eyesight. Lam's goods van, violating the traffic signs, turned right from Tak Wah Street into the westbound lane of Kwan Mun Hau Street and hit the couple.
Lai later died of severe head injuries, and Ms Chiu suffered a minor elbow fracture and a head injury. She has been under the care of a distant relative since the accident.
Lam told police that he did not notice either the sign or the painted street marking. He was heading to Kwai Fong via Sha Tsui Road.
He claimed that he did not realise that vehicles were prohibited from making right turns at the junction. He also said he had stopped his van at the junction and had watched for traffic before turning. He estimated he was going about 10km/h when the collision occurred.
He claimed he had seen the couple only after he had crossed the double white lines, and he had stopped his van at once, but not soon enough to avoid hitting Lai.
The court also heard that Lam had paid HK$5,000 to Ms Chiu.
