SINGAPORE — A 26-year-old driver who reached speeds of up to 221kmh during a high-speed group joyride that ended in multiple collisions along Stamford Road has been sentenced to four months’ jail and banned from driving for three years.
Goh Jared-Kane pleaded guilty to one charge of dangerous driving. He is the fifth of six drivers involved in the 2024 incident to be sentenced.
The court heard that Goh’s driving was not an isolated burst of speeding but part of a sustained period of dangerous driving across several roads in central Singapore.
Speeds reached more than twice the limit
The incident took place at about 1.30am on Oct. 27, 2024, when Goh was driving a blue Mitsubishi Evo.
He had met up with five other motorists at a carpark along Stadium Boulevard before the group travelled towards the downtown area, passing through the Pan Island Expressway, Central Expressway, Orchard Road, Bras Basah Road and Raffles Boulevard.
Along the CTE, Goh was estimated to have travelled at between 125kmh and 221kmh on a stretch with a 90kmh speed limit.
On another section where the limit was 80kmh, he was estimated to have reached speeds of between 94kmh and 196kmh.
The speeding continued after the group left the expressway.
At the junction of Stamford Road and Victoria Street, Goh was estimated to have been travelling between 89kmh and 109kmh, despite the speed limit being 50kmh.
Prosecutors described the dangerous driving as sustained and deliberate, rather than a momentary lapse in judgement.
Joyride ends in two collisions
The group eventually encountered another vehicle making a right turn from Stamford Road into Queen Street.
Goh braked sharply to avoid hitting the vehicle.
A car driven by co-accused Kong Jia Quan, which was following closely behind, then rear-ended Goh’s Mitsubishi.
Another driver, Lee Jun En Gilviz, attempted to avoid the collision by swerving sharply to the right. His vehicle mounted the grass verge and overturned.
The crash damaged roadside vegetation, a road sign and a traffic-light signal.
A second collision followed when debris from the first crash spread across the road.
Two other drivers, Marcus Lau Yong Wei and Damien Chia Hwa Chuan, were approaching the scene at high speed. Lau braked after seeing the debris, while Chia’s vehicle subsequently collided with the rear of Lau’s car.
Goh, Kong and Quah did not stop at the crash site and instead drove to a nearby building, according to court proceedings.
Goh and passenger were injured
Goh had a 22-year-old woman in the front passenger seat.
Both were taken to hospital following the incident. Goh suffered injuries including an acute neck sprain, headache and an acute stress reaction, while his passenger was diagnosed with an acute neck sprain and headache.
Both were given three days of medical leave.
No other members of the public were reported to have suffered serious physical injuries in the two collisions.
However, prosecutors stressed that the high speeds created a significant risk of serious harm to other road users.
Court rejects claim that driver was a victim
During sentencing, Goh’s defence lawyer sought a fine, arguing that his client had not seriously injured anyone other than himself and his passenger.
The defence also argued that if imprisonment was imposed, Goh should receive the shortest sentence among the drivers involved.
The court did not accept the characterisation of Goh as a victim of the incident.
District Judge Cheng Yuxi noted that Goh had blatantly disregarded speed limits and that his dangerous driving had been deliberate and sustained.
The prosecution had sought between three-and-a-half and five months’ jail, together with a driving disqualification of between three and four years.
The court ultimately imposed four months’ imprisonment and a three-year driving ban.
Other drivers have also been sentenced
Goh is the fifth driver from the group to receive a sentence.
Lau was sentenced to four months’ jail on June 26 and disqualified from driving for three years.
Chia was sentenced to four months and two weeks’ jail on June 29, while Quah received two months and three weeks’ jail on the same day.
Lee was sentenced to four months’ jail on July 13, along with a three-year driving disqualification.
The case involving Kong, who was driving the car that rear-ended Goh, remains pending. He has indicated that he intends to plead guilty.
Police investigation uncovered wider joyride
The incident initially came to police attention after a vehicle overturned along Stamford Road.
Singapore Police Force investigations later established that the crash was part of a larger incident involving six vehicles travelling dangerously together.
Police said the motorists had been travelling at speeds of up to 176kmh during their initial investigation, while subsequent court proceedings established that Goh’s speed had reached as high as 221kmh.
All six drivers were identified and arrested. Their vehicles were seized as case exhibits and they were suspended from driving during the investigation.
Dangerous driving carries jail and fines
Under Singapore law, dangerous driving can result in a fine of up to S$5,000, imprisonment for up to 12 months, or both.
Where hurt is caused, the penalties can be more severe, with a fine of up to S$10,000 and imprisonment of up to two years, or both. Drivers may also be disqualified from driving.
The case underscores the potential consequences of treating public roads as a venue for high-speed driving.
What began as a late-night group drive ended with multiple collisions, damaged public infrastructure and several drivers facing criminal prosecution.
For Goh, the court has now imposed four months behind bars and a three-year driving ban after finding that his repeated high-speed driving represented a sustained disregard for road safety.
