Cleaning Company Driver Admits Causing Colleague's Death by Driving Off While She Was Alighting

A minibus driver has admitted to causing the death of an elderly colleague after driving off with the rear door still open, resulting in her fatal fall. Ang Oon Leng, 61, pleaded guilty on Friday to causing the death of the 72-year-old woman through negligence.

The incident occurred on March 5, 2025, after the cleaning shift. Ang was responsible for ferrying his colleagues. After stopping at Hillion Mall to drop off passengers, he checked his mirrors and saw no one in the rear seats. Without visually confirming the rear door area, he drove off, unaware that his colleague was still in the process of alighting. The vehicle's movement caused her to fall and sustain severe head injuries, including a skull fracture, which proved fatal.

“

He would’ve known by that time that there were elderly passengers that he was ferrying, that these passengers would need more time to get up and get down from the vehicle. This would have increased the standard of care expected of him.

CCTV footage presented in court showed the victim as the last passenger to exit the vehicle when it began to move. Another colleague who had already alighted rushed to her aid. The prosecution is seeking a jail term of eight to 12 weeks for Ang, along with a five-year disqualification of his driving license. Deputy Public Prosecutor Thaddeus Tan argued that this punishment would be appropriate for the severe harm caused.

Mr. Tan highlighted Ang's negligence, noting that as a driver ferrying elderly passengers for several months, he should have exercised a higher standard of care. The prosecution emphasized that driving off with the door open was a "severe lack of care" and a breach of traffic regulations designed to ensure passenger safety. Ang, who was unrepresented, stated he lives alone, works as a cleaner, and has no means to compensate the victim's family. He expressed concern that a conviction would jeopardize his employment.

“

These rules are there for a reason … to ensure that the safety of all the passengers is ensured before the vehicle is operated.