A 56-year-old man has been sentenced to 13 months in jail and fined $1,000 for a 2024 incident where his lorry, carrying a raised crane boom, struck the ceiling of the Central Expressway (CTE) tunnel. The collision caused approximately $1.4 million in damages to the tunnel's electrical and mechanical systems and forced a 10-hour road closure, leading to severe traffic congestion for commuters. The driver, Lai Daohong, pleaded guilty to two charges under the Road Traffic Act, including driving a heavy vehicle that collided with government property and operating an over-height vehicle without the required police or auxiliary police escort.
Court documents revealed that the incident occurred on November 8, 2024, when the driver failed to ensure his crane boom was properly retracted before moving off. He drove for about 3.1km, striking a tree branch and a height restriction bar before hitting the tunnel entrance. The slip road remained closed for 10 hours for emergency repairs and debris removal, with additional closures required over four subsequent nights to complete the restoration. In addition to his jail term and fine, the driver has been disqualified from holding all classes of driving licenses for 24 months upon his release.
This case highlights the significant public impact of negligence involving heavy vehicles on Singapore's road network. The incident serves as a reminder of the strict safety protocols in place for over-height vehicles, which are mandated to have escorts to prevent such infrastructure damage. As the legal proceedings conclude, the focus remains on the importance of driver accountability and the potential for severe penalties when safety regulations are ignored, particularly for repeat offenders.