Woman, 60, runs over & drags woman, 73, in Katong thinking she had driven over a pothole

A 60-year-old Singaporean woman has been charged for causing serious harm to an elderly woman, 73, by running her over with her car and dragging her for a distance.

She allegedly failed to realise the accident had occurred, thinking she had run over a pothole.

Incident

According to court documents seen by Mothership, the driver, Goh Gek Noi, was driving along the service road of 60C Tanjong Katong Road in the early morning of Jul. 19, 2023.

She was heading to her workplace at a coffee shop nearby.

The court noted that the road conditions were good that morning and visibility was fair.

As Goh was approaching a turn at the T-junction, she allegedly failed to notice the other woman, Tan Lay Choo, crossing the road, despite Goh checking for oncoming traffic on both her right and left.

She drove straight into Tan's left side and continued moving forward after the impact without slowing or stopping.

The court noted that Goh was aware that she had run over something as the steering wheel shook, but assumed that she had run over a pothole.

As she continued driving, she ran over Tan and dragged her under the car for a distance.

Eyewitness account

The accident was noticed and reported by an eyewitness who was in another car nearby.

He saw Tan appear from underneath Goh's car as she drove away, according to court documents.

Hospitalised for more than a month

As a result of the accident, Tan was admitted to Tan Tock Seng Hospital, where she was found to have sustained 13 types of injuries, including multiple rib fractures, fracture of the upper cheekbone and bilateral lung contusions.

She was hospitalised for about a month, from Jul. 19, 2023 to Aug. 21, 2023.

On Aug. 21, 2023, she was transferred to Ren Ci Community Hospital for rehabilitation.

Tan was discharged on Oct. 4, 2023, where she displayed "functional improvement" in her ability to perform activities of daily living but still required some assistance.

These activities include transitioning from sitting to standing, grooming and showering.

Goh will be charged with three offences, including causing grievous hurt while driving, failing to stop after an accident and providing personal particulars, and failing to render assistance in the absence of police officers.

The case will be heard in court on Nov. 11.

Top image from Google Maps.