Indian national gets 10-month jail term for dozing off at wheel while drunk in Singapore

A 45-year-old Indian national has been sentenced to 10 months in jail in Singapore for falling asleep while driving a cement mixer under the influence of alcohol that caused a chain collision, injuring several people, according to a media report on Friday.

Sowrirajulu Karunakaran last May was driving a cement mixer under the influence of alcohol when he fell asleep and collided with the rear of a lorry, reported The Straits Times newspaper.

This caused a chain collision involving four vehicles and injured several people, including a man who had pelvic fractures, the newspaper said.

Deputy Public Prosecutor said that Sowrirajulu was working for Infinite Logistics and Trading at the time of the accident in May 2022, it said Sowrirajulu pleaded guilty to a charge of driving under the influence of alcohol and causing grievous injury while driving without due care or reasonable consideration, the report said.

His blood ethanol concentration was found to be about three times that of the legal limit.