crime · Bastillepost

Driver Denies Dangerous Driving Over Fatal Lai Chi Kok Crash

about 1 hour ago2 MIN
Driver Denies Dangerous Driving Over Fatal Lai Chi Kok Crash

Summary

A District Court trial is continuing over a fatal traffic case on Lin Cheung Road, Lai Chi Kok, on 6 March 2024, in which 56-year-old Indian motorcyclist SYED OMER Habib Mohamed died after being struck, thrown onto the road and then run over by a private car driven by 65-year-old Lau Siu-lai. Lau has denied dangerous driving causing death and failing to stop after an accident causing injury, but admitted driving a vehicle whose glass or light transmission did not comply with safety rules. The prosecution says the victim was left lying in a traffic lane after two earlier impacts involving a taxi and a white Toyota, and that Lau then drove over him and continued on without stopping. Giving evidence, Lau said she had been checking her left mirror and a large blue road sign while preparing to change lanes, noticed no sparks, rebound or other warning signs ahead, and only later called police after seeing news coverage.

Key Points

  • The charges relate to a crash at about 10pm on 6 March 2024 on northbound Lin Cheung Road, where three traffic lanes were in use and light rain was reported.
  • Prosecutors say the motorcyclist first clipped a taxi door while moving from the left lane, then slid into a white Toyota before being thrown onto the carriageway.
  • The victim was said to have landed in the middle lane, about eight metres ahead of Lau's Tesla Model X, which then ran over him before continuing away.
  • A post-mortem cited severe injuries including a torn left lower limb and pelvic fractures, while another account said the direct cause of death was multiple injuries.
  • In police interview material played earlier, Lau said she thought she had driven over a hard object, later worried the hit-and-run vehicle might have been hers, and reported the matter.

Why It Matters

The case focuses on how much attention a driver must keep on the road ahead even while checking mirrors, signs and lane changes on major Hong Kong expressways. It also underlines the legal risk of leaving the scene when a driver believes a vehicle has struck an object but has not confirmed what happened.