Hong Kong taxi driver jailed for 8 years, banned from driving over role in crash that killed 2 pedestrians and injured 4 in 2021

“Even if the defendant did not deliberately ram into the crowd, it was predictable that the pedestrian’s lives would be in danger or even killed if he accelerated.”

Hong Kong police arrest 71-year-old taxi driver over alleged hit-and-run

The court earlier heard that Mok had accelerated as he approached the pedestrian crossing on Kwong Fuk Road, where the traffic lights were red, as he tried to overtake cars ahead of him on August 22, 2021.

Car camera footage seen in court showed that Mok had veered from his lane to the opposite side of the road before his taxi hit a safety island.

A 59-year-old man was killed at the scene while a 63-year-old woman died in hospital a day later. The four injured included a pregnant woman and a four-year-old boy.

Chan said it was “lucky” that the woman had been in a stable condition and later gave birth to the child.

Hong Kong taxi driver pleads guilty over role in crash that killed 2, hurt 4

He found the defendant, with more than 40 years of experience on the road, had a “fairly good” driving record as he only had three minor offences in the past five years.

But he noted that Mok never explained why he drove in such a manner given he was neither under the influence of drugs or alcohol, nor affected by a problem with his vehicle.

For manslaughter charges in Hong Kong, sentences begin at 12 years’ imprisonment.

Hong Kong taxi driver ‘ran red light’ at intersection before crash that killed 2

Chan remarked that dangerous driving causing death in Hong Kong was punishable by imprisonment for a maximum of 10 years only, whereas the offence could result in a life sentence in Britain.

For the rest of the dangerous driving offences, Chan set the start point for prison terms at four years, on top of the life disqualification from driving.

Mok received a one-third discount to reflect his guilty plea.