Reckless driver finally charged ...
Two years after test drive that left salesgirl passenger dead
Two years after test drive that left salesgirl passenger dead
ANSLEY NG
ansley@mediacorp.com.sg
AFTER a protracted investigation that took almost two years, the youth blamed for causing the death of a car salesgirl was finally charged in court yesterday with reckless driving. Regan Lee Da Wen, 26, was accused of causing the death of Ms He Xueli, 22, by driving a Mazda MX-5 convertible dangerously during a test drive in October 2005. Minutes after taking the wheel, Lee lost control of the $110,000 silver sports car along Upper Paya Lebar Road. The vehicle flew over the road divider and crashed head on with a BMW before flipping over and smashing into a van in another lane.
Lee, a warehouse supervisor, reportedly drives a Fiat Punto HGT — a high-performance car that was a gift from his father - and had no intention of buying the Mazda. He escaped unhurt in the accident but Ms He — the only child of an odd-job labourer and a bakery assistant — died in hospital. Lee, who was Ms He’s last customer for the day, was later arrested but released on $10,000 bail.
The five BMW passengers were taken to hospital with breathing difficulties and chest pains, while the van’s occupants, a couple, escaped unscathed. Lee, who will appear in court on June 18 for a pre-trial conference, faces a maximum five-year jail term if found guilty. Yesterday, his lawyer Julian Tay said his client was
“haunted” by the accident.
Earlier this month, the youth incurred the rage of Netizens and car enthusiasts after he wrote in a motoring forum that he was shopping for sports cars and could not decide between a Subaru WRX and a Volkswagen Golf GTI. Many were angry that he was allowed to drive while investigations were ongoing.
Yesterday, Lee’s indictment sparked a host of comments on several Internet forums.
“He is boasting about which sports car to buy ... Does he look like he has been ‘haunted’?” asked Flyer_king, in a sammyboy.com post.
Aside from the criminal charge, Lee also faces civil proceedings brought against him by other parties in the accident. According to lawyer Daniel Goh, who is acting for the driver of the BMW, his client is suing Lee for damage caused to the former’s car as well as injuries suffered by those in it.
ansley@mediacorp.com.sg
AFTER a protracted investigation that took almost two years, the youth blamed for causing the death of a car salesgirl was finally charged in court yesterday with reckless driving. Regan Lee Da Wen, 26, was accused of causing the death of Ms He Xueli, 22, by driving a Mazda MX-5 convertible dangerously during a test drive in October 2005. Minutes after taking the wheel, Lee lost control of the $110,000 silver sports car along Upper Paya Lebar Road. The vehicle flew over the road divider and crashed head on with a BMW before flipping over and smashing into a van in another lane.
Lee, a warehouse supervisor, reportedly drives a Fiat Punto HGT — a high-performance car that was a gift from his father - and had no intention of buying the Mazda. He escaped unhurt in the accident but Ms He — the only child of an odd-job labourer and a bakery assistant — died in hospital. Lee, who was Ms He’s last customer for the day, was later arrested but released on $10,000 bail.
The five BMW passengers were taken to hospital with breathing difficulties and chest pains, while the van’s occupants, a couple, escaped unscathed. Lee, who will appear in court on June 18 for a pre-trial conference, faces a maximum five-year jail term if found guilty. Yesterday, his lawyer Julian Tay said his client was
“haunted” by the accident.
Earlier this month, the youth incurred the rage of Netizens and car enthusiasts after he wrote in a motoring forum that he was shopping for sports cars and could not decide between a Subaru WRX and a Volkswagen Golf GTI. Many were angry that he was allowed to drive while investigations were ongoing.
Yesterday, Lee’s indictment sparked a host of comments on several Internet forums.
“He is boasting about which sports car to buy ... Does he look like he has been ‘haunted’?” asked Flyer_king, in a sammyboy.com post.
Aside from the criminal charge, Lee also faces civil proceedings brought against him by other parties in the accident. According to lawyer Daniel Goh, who is acting for the driver of the BMW, his client is suing Lee for damage caused to the former’s car as well as injuries suffered by those in it.
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Dear friends, I got this from Mediacorp's Newspaper 'Today', 24 Apr 07.
What's your view?
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