S'pore woman, 38, hits & kills motorcyclist, 70, claims she lost control of car due to menstrual pain

A 38-year-old woman claimed that she lost control of the car she was driving due to sudden menstrual pain, causing her to collide with a motorcycle.

The 70-year-old motorcyclist was pronounced dead at the scene.

The accident occurred at about 2:55am on Dec. 3, 2022 on the Bukit Timah Expressway (BKE) in the direction of Woodlands.

The accused, Siti Noor Faizah (transliteration from Chinese), faced five charges of violating the Road Traffic Act, including careless driving and not ensuring her passengers wore seat belts, reported Shin Min Daily News.

At the time of the accident, there were eight people in the seven-seater SUV, including herself, her husband, her sister, and five children aged between two and 12.

She admitted to one of the charges while the remaining charges were taken into consideration during sentencing.

She was sentenced to four months in jail on May 20, 2025, and her driver's licence was revoked for eight years.

What happened

The woman was reported to have suddenly lost control of the car while driving, first hitting the railing to the right, then skidding to the left.

She then collided with a motorcycle, causing the elderly rider to die on the spot.

Three children in the car were not wearing seat belts, with the two-year-old twins being held by other family members.

The woman and her family were also sent to the hospital for treatment.

She sustained a swollen forehead and a scratch on her right arm.

Her sister suffered a hematoma on her head and a cut on her nose. Both were discharged the same day.

The children suffered minor injuries, including back pain, dizziness, shoulder pain, and eye swelling.

One child had a hematoma and a laceration above his left eyebrow.

In court, her lawyer argued that she lost control of the vehicle due to sudden menstrual pain, which led to the accident.

No medical report to support menstrual cramp claim

The prosecution challenged this claim, noting that Faizah had not informed her family that she was unwell at the time.

Additionally, there was no medical report to support her statement.

Prosecutors emphasised that menstrual pain is a predictable condition and that the woman should have taken appropriate precautions, such as avoiding driving if she was feeling unwell.

During sentencing, the judge noted the absence of medical evidence to confirm that Faizah was experiencing menstrual pain.

Without such proof, it was impossible to assess the severity of the pain or its impact on her driving ability, the judge said.

The judge added that if her pain had indeed been severe, she should have refrained from driving.

Top photos via Malaysia-Singapore Border Crossers (MSBC)