S'pore man, 54, jailed for 36 weeks & fined S$30,000 for drink driving, crashing into taxi & fleeing with a missing tyre

A 54-year-old man was jailed for 36 weeks, fined S$30,000 and had his driving licence revoked for nine years after he drove drunk, crashed into a taxi and fled the scene, all while his car was missing a tyre.

The accused, Cai Jinhua, faced six charges including drink driving, careless driving, hit-and-run, and crossing double white lines, according to Shin Min Daily News.

He pleaded guilty to three of the six charges, with the remaining three taken into consideration during sentencing.

What happened

On the night of Jul. 16, 2024, at 10pm, Cai dined at a restaurant along Thomson Road, where he consumed about three glasses of beer, before driving home about an hour later.

At around 11:56pm, Cai was driving in the second lane along Thomson Road towards Upper Thomson Road.

He failed to pay attention to the road ahead and rear-ended a taxi that was waiting to turn right at the first lane near a junction.

After the collision, Cai did not stop his vehicle or render assistance to the taxi driver.

The injured taxi driver, 56, reported the hit-and-run to the police.

Continued driving without a tyre

Despite his car losing a tyre in the collision, Cai continued to drive, weaving between lanes.

He failed to slow down when the traffic light turned amber, crossed double white lines, and struck a kerb while entering the slip road towards the Pan-Island Expressway.

His car eventually came to a standstill in the middle of two lanes.

Police arrived at the scene following a report and arrested Cai at 1:15am the following day.

Injuries and damages

The taxi driver sustained a neck strain and minor head injuries, and was taken to Tan Tock Seng Hospital before being discharged the same day.

Based on investigations, the collision caused the taxi's left rear tyre to burst and its rim to be damaged.

Its rear left bumper was also scraped.

Cai’s car sustained dents on both sides, with the front right tyre completely detached.

Cai has since compensated the taxi driver S$2,106, covering S$1,308 in repair costs, as well as lost income and towing fees, according to Shin Min.

According to court records cited by Shin Min, Cai did not pay the fine and opted to serve an additional 100 days in jail instead.