Lorry driver faces multiple charges following fatal accident that killed NUS professor

A 27-year-old lorry driver, Natarajan Mohanraj, appeared in a Singapore court on 6 November, facing ten charges related to an incident that caused the death of Emeritus Professor Tan Yock Lin, a respected law professor at the National University of Singapore (NUS).

The charges also include allegations that the Indian national continued to drive a lorry on two occasions in 2024, despite having his driving licence revoked shortly after the fatal accident on 7 July 2023.

These charges include causing death by driving without due care and attention, driving without a valid licence, and failing to wear a seatbelt.

The incident occurred on Upper Thomson Road, where Natarajan allegedly lost control of the lorry while navigating with a GPS.

According to court documents, the vehicle mounted a kerb, crossed into oncoming lanes, and collided with multiple vehicles, including Professor Tan’s car. The professor, aged 70, suffered severe injuries, including a skull fracture.

He was taken to Tan Tock Seng Hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries despite medical intervention.

Following the accident, Natarajan’s driving licence was revoked on 25 July 2023. However, he allegedly reoffended by driving a lorry without a valid licence twice in 2024—once on 3 January on Sims Avenue and again on 19 May on the Ayer Rajah Expressway. In the latter instance, he reportedly drove without the vehicle owner’s consent.

If found guilty of causing death due to careless driving, Natarajan could face up to three years in prison and a fine of up to S$10,000. Each charge of causing grievous harm through negligent driving carries a possible two-year jail term and a fine of up to S$5,000.

Details presented during the coroner’s inquiry on 2 May 2024 revealed that Natarajan initially told a police officer at the scene that he had fallen asleep while driving, resulting in the accident.

However, he later recanted this statement, attributing his initial response to panic. Natarajan clarified that he had been closely monitoring his GPS due to his unfamiliarity with Singapore’s roads, as he was only occasionally tasked with driving in his construction job.

At the inquiry, Natarajan explained that he was driving from Jalan Buroh to Ang Mo Kio to pick up a colleague when the GPS instructed him to make a right turn.

He stated that after changing lanes, he repeatedly checked the GPS, which caused him to momentarily take his eyes off the road. This distraction reportedly led him to realise too late that his vehicle’s front tyre had mounted the central divider, causing him to lose control of the lorry.

The lorry veered across three lanes and collided with Professor Tan’s vehicle. In addition to Professor Tan, the lorry also struck a van, injuring two other men aged 27 and 62, both of whom suffered grievous injuries, according to police records.

The coroner’s inquiry also examined the emergency response to the crash. Emergency responders from the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) arrived shortly after the accident, at around 10:50 am, approximately 45 minutes after receiving the alert.

SCDF officers used hydraulic equipment to free Professor Tan, who was trapped in the driver’s seat. Initial medical assistance was provided on-site, but Professor Tan was unconscious when he arrived at the hospital.

The fatal accident and Natarajan’s subsequent actions have raised concerns about road safety and the responsibilities of foreign workers tasked with operating vehicles in Singapore. Professor Tan’s nephew and sister-in-law were present in court for the inquiry.

Natarajan’s case is scheduled for a pre-trial conference on 6 December.