RIP Benjamin Mok

Update from Lee Chuen Ling:

A memorial website has been set up for Ben at http://www.benmokpedalon.com

"As a responsible and safe cyclist, Ben would’ve appealed for calm in light of the situation. Fellow cyclists who wish to show their support for Ben are advised to attend the funeral mass with their cycling helmets instead. Please be appropriately dressed for church."

"One of two cyclists hit by car in Clementi dies," by Mavis Goh. The Straits Times, 25 Mar 2010. Drink-driving suspect also under probe for hit-and-run offence.

"Freelance writer Benjamin Mok, 35, died in hospital
without regaining consciousness.

ONE of two cyclists knocked down in Clementi on Sunday night by a suspected drink-driver died in hospital yesterday from head injuries.

Freelance writer Benjamin Mok Chee Kong, 35, never regained consciousness after the accident.

The 62-year-old suspect, a general practitioner, could be facing more trouble as he is under investigation for a hit-and-run offence.

The Straits Times understands that he had left the scene after the accident, and returned later. He was arrested and is currently out on bail.

Mr Mok and his friend, Mr Bertram Leong Poh Meng, 22, a chef, had been out on a routine cycling trip on Sunday night.

The two of them were initially in a group of six, but were with just one other friend when cycling along Clementi Road. They were headed towards Upper Bukit Timah Road for supper when the accident happened.

Mr Leong is in the National University Hospital (NUH) with head injuries.

A secondary schoolmate, who did not want to be named, said Mr Leong had no recollection of the accident and remembered only being in an ambulance.

He added that Mr Leong was recovering and would be moved out of the high-dependency ward soon. Since the accident, Mr Mok's friends and family had rallied around his bed at NUH.

Mr Mok had been an active cyclist for many years and had ridden overseas in countries like the United States.

A close friend, Mr Nic Mok, 23, said the cyclist was very particular about road safety and had always insisted on wearing full safety gear such as helmet and gloves, and having front and rear lights when on the road.

'I was distraught when I heard the news. It was shocking because he is usually very cautious,' he added.

He said the two of them used to cycle and train together, often past midnight, about five times a week but had cut down the frequency because they had difficulties fitting into each other's schedule.

Mr Mok said his friend did not mind cycling alone, usually in places like Lim Chu Kang and Mandai roads.

Mr Steven Lim, 43, president of Safe Cycling Task Force, said cyclists are vulnerable on the road because of their size and speed.

'Generally when cyclists are travelling on the left lane, other motorists tend to squeeze in with them instead of giving them space,' he added.

Last year, 17 cyclists and pillion riders died on the road, down from 22 in 2008.

The police are appealing for witnesses. Anyone with information can call the police on 1800-547-1818."

mavgoh@sph.com.sg

Driver who knocked down Alvin "Kroxy" Boey was drunk

"Soldier knocked down cyclist after drinking binge." By Chong Chee Kin. The Straits Times, 27 Feb 2004.

"SINGAPORE Armed Forces First Sergeant Koe Seng Wah had already had too many glasses of beer when he got behind the wheel of his car on Sept 13 last year.

It did not stop him from exceeding the speed limit though. Shortly after he left Tengah Air Base at about 4.15pm, he hit a 23-year-old cyclist, who died at the scene.

Yesterday, Koe, 31, was jailed four months for causing the death of the cyclist through his recklessness.

A district court heard that the breath analyser test he took about two hours after the accident showed he had 78 micrograms of alcohol in 100ml of his breath - more than twice the legal limit of 35 micrograms per 100ml.

The cyclist, Nanyang Technological University engineering undergraduate Alvin Boey, was on the road with a group of friends in Jalan Bahar, which has a speed limit of 60kmh, when the accident happened.

Koe, who was driving his car at about 70kmh, was on his way to pick up his wife and year-old son, when he spotted Mr Boey and his friends on the inside lane, travelling in the same direction.

Instead of slowing down or moving to the right lane, Koe continued driving on the inside lane at the same speed, and hit Mr Boey's bicycle.

The undergrad was flung onto the windscreen of Koe's car, landing so heavily that he cracked it before ending up on the road.

Investigations later revealed that Koe had finished work at the airbase at about noon and gone to the mess hall where he drank beer for about four hours until he left.

In his mitigation, he told the court he had a clean driving record before the accident. He also said he was remorseful and had swerved right after he hit Mr Boey to avoid running over him.

He could have been jailed for up to two years and fined."

Copyright @ 2004 Singapore Press Holdings. All rights reserved.

NTU undergrad cyclist killed by suspected drunk driver

A friend of mine saw the news footage last night. Blood was splattered near a bus stop at Jalan Bahar.

"He was the last man in the group because it was his duty to ensure the safety of the other 20 or so participants." - Straits Times, 15 Sep 2003

Poor chap. Biking advocate. Only son. Friendly and humble chap from condolences at togoparts. Gone just like that.

A cyclist or pedestrian is easy prey for an errant driver. While pleased that most of my cycling kakis are now well lit on roads and wear helmets these days, we would still need a miracle to survive a rear hit by an errant driver. Drunk drivers should lose their right to drive forever, even after a long spell in jail.

Ride safe everyone. Hope you are at peace now, Alvin Boey.

See The Straits Times> report and Togoparts Forum.

First posted in Otterman speaks (post date refreshed to 2005 after correction to surname; press had mistakenly called him Alvin Ho; his cousin corrected the error in Togoparts).

Alvin Boey killed - The Straits Times report

NTU undergrad out on a cycling expedition dies in road accident. By Ng Toh Heong. The Straits Times, 14 Sep 2003.

"A second-year NTU undergraduate out on a cycling expedition died after being hit by a car.

This happened just a week after police announced the number of fatal road accidents in the first half of the year rose 22 per cent compared to the same period last year.

It was along Jalan Bahar near NTU where the accident happened on a Saturday afternoon.

23-year-old Alvin Ho [actually Alvin Boey] and two other students were cycling back to the university from East Coast Park when he was hit by a car.

The impact of the collision flung him towards a bus stop and he died on the spot.

At his home on Sunday, Alvin's sister said she was too upset to speak.

Police have released the driver, a 31-year-old man, on a $10,000 bail.

He was believed to have been speeding towards the PIE at the time of accident and has been charged with performing a reckless act.

Reckless driving, police said, are the cause of most road accidents.

The driver in this instance was allegedly drunk when the accident happened."