Basketball structure fell on kid, sadly passed away..

[Gnahp]

@Nolicense 

I remember this 2003 case

Quote

Lamp post case: None to blame for teen's death

Coroner says no individual or group to blame for his death - it was an accident; boy's dad visibly upset

By Selina Lum

NO ONE is to blame for the death of a teenage boy who was hit on the head by a falling lamp post at a Tampines basketball court last year.

After weeks of postponement, the verdict from the Coroner's Court on the death of Tay Wei Yi - that it was an accident - was finally delivered in less than two minutes yesterday.

Before returning a verdict of misadventure, State Coroner Malcolm Tan said he was 'satisfied that there is neither any individual nor organisation that is criminally concerned with the death'. He is expected to deliver his written findings on Oct 6.

The teenager's father, Mr Tay Chee Kwang, 41, an odd-job labourer, was visibly upset when the verdict was delivered.

'Even the coroner said no one is at fault, so I suppose it was my son's fault,' he said to reporters in Mandarin before storming off.

Wei Yi, 13, a student at Pasir Ris Secondary, never regained consciousness after being hit by the lamp post, which was badly corroded at the base, on Feb 28 last year.

The coroner's inquiry into his death was first heard in April this year, and several witnesses, ranging from experts to those who frequently played at the court, gave testimony.

Four experts - the principal consultant at PSB Corporation's mechanical testing group, a materials analyst, a mechanical engineer and a corrosion expert - gave differing opinions on whether the most severe corrosion had occurred above or below ground level.

This was deemed an issue as it would help determine whether the town council officer checking the post could have seen the rusted portion, and was therefore negligent in not calling for its replacement.

When the officer in question, Mr Kuah Yee Yee, 26, who works for Tampines Town Council's managing agent EM Services, testified in May, he said he did a visual check of the lamp post from a distance of about five to seven metres, but did not touch it.

He conducted his inspection on Feb 6 last year, a few weeks before the incident.

Testimony from those who played on the court also differed. Polytechnic student Goh Yong Ching, 20, who frequented it, said the lamp post had been tilting for a few months.

However, Wei Yi's five friends, who were playing volleyball with him when the incident occurred, did not notice anything wrong with the post.

There were yet more twists and turns to come in the case, including a twice-postponed verdict, which is a rare occurrence in such an inquiry.

On Aug 19, in what is a highly unusual move for a coroner's inquiry, the town council's lawyers, Mr Shashi Nathan and Mr Peter Chean, made written submissions to the court, saying that the teen's death could not be conclusively attributed to any known party.

The lawyers argued that Mr Kuah had 'adhered strictly to the town council's estate inspection system, and had carried out his duties conscientiously and diligently'.

Mr Kuah did not see any tilting or corrosion before the fateful accident, they said.

The lawyers also hit out at Mr Goh's testimony - another unusual move - arguing that he was either mistaken or had embellished his evidence, as it was untenable for the lamp post to have remained tilted for so long without falling.

They added that the Tampines Town Council had gone out of its way to provide Wei Yi's family with support and assistance, and had even helped to arrange for them to be relocated to a new home to 'facilitate the emotional healing process'.

The town council had also taken steps to ensure that such accidents would not occur again, the lawyers said. These include laying detailed maintenance plans and buying high-tech equipment to check for corrosion in lamp posts.

 

[DOBIEMKZ]

8 minutes ago, Fitvip said:

If structural design, shouldn't it be the architect's fault? As long as the contractor built according to the specs!

If rusted, it could be contractor's fault or maintenance...

Some contractors might have use low-grade materials. :/
I think there's no check on that. :/

[Tohto]

1 hour ago, Beregond said:

under which TC??

East Coast GRC..

[Meanmachine]

@Volvobrick Not exactly, their focus is on fighting the endemic and restoring neighbouring building cleanliness, lift and lift lobby rubbish-bins are washed clean & ready for use, wipe down all rails and seating areas at void deck. The basketball court maint.& repair falls under the supervision of respective Town Council, similar to MSCP washing schedule and maint. program.

[Beregond]

2 minutes ago, Phang said:

@Nolicense 

I remember this 2003 case

 

they better dun give the same crab. 

[Scion]

18 minutes ago, DOBIEMKZ said:

Then I think those who drew up those guidelines on sheltered walkways did not do a good enough job.
They just drew up what is theoretically adequate (accordingly to their own assumptions) but practically and functionally lacking. 

designers and engineers need to balance between functionality, cost, leadtime and many other factors

sure, u can build an ultra wide shelters that cover everyone, but are there enough space? 

material cost will shoot up

and 80% of time it's deemed underutilised (when no heavy rain, at night when there's no sun)

wider shelters need stronger beams

also need to install extra/powerful lights cos the wide shelter will block off the street lights at night, and will appear dark and unsafe

see... many considerations one

[Beregond]

1 minute ago, Tohto said:

East Coast GRC..

i would expect the responsibility of checking and maintenance of the basketball court to fall under their charges then. 

[DOBIEMKZ]

Just now, Beregond said:

i would expect the responsibility of checking and maintenance of the basketball court to fall under their charges then. 

I think they will probably tai-ji away the responsibility to their contractors or sub-con. :/
We shall see to that.

[Meanmachine]

Surprisingly, did anyone notice any CCTV install around the basketball court ? or nearby vicinity . . . this could lead to clue

[Atonchia]

13 minutes ago, Tohto said:

East Coast GRC..

Not part of the plan 

[Jamesc]

Someone Whatsapp me a video of a big swing in China at the edge of a cliff.

They pushed the 2 ladies so high the legs of the swing gave way

and the whole swing and 2 ladies flew off the cliff.

Its something I would rather have not seen

but gave me an idea of when to send my MIL for holiday

when can travel again.

[Tohto]

24 minutes ago, Beregond said:

i would expect the responsibility of checking and maintenance of the basketball court to fall under their charges then. 

That is also what I expect.

East Coast plan failed.

[Mustank]

43 minutes ago, Meanmachine said:

The whole design of the basketball structure are too flimsy, light bottom and heavy top, one look at it i can tell it's unsafe.

I played basketball and I knew how players warmed up practise by shooting from centre court and dunking at times, even the court spot-light if blown needs weeks of replacement, i must admit it is due to poor follow-up on maintenance & repairs, someone must notify the town council via RC committee to Community Centre staff. And the fitness club equipments provided to HDB residents are in state of despair .let alone the basketball structure mishap.

Light bottom heavy top sounds like

[ToyotaShuttle]

29 minutes ago, Tohto said:

East Coast GRC..

east coast plan failed?

[Mustank]

15 minutes ago, Atonchia said:

Not part of the plan 

Better don’t anyhow cut ribbon take picture when launch because later donno what happen

life really always play tricks

[Meanmachine]

@Mustank      @Mustank U mean Humpty Dumpty have a great fall . . .

[Mkl22]

1 hour ago, DOBIEMKZ said:

Structural failure.

Might be the base poles under the floor not deep enough.

Cut costs on material and resulted in such a tragedy. ://

cause under the floor cannot see mah...... so "eat" material lor....lets see if they can dig up the construction company and make the boss pay for it.

Edited July 27, 2021 by Mkl22

[bsswan]

41 minutes ago, Beregond said:

i would expect the responsibility of checking and maintenance of the basketball court to fall under their charges then. 

I wonder if the frames even appear on any check list at all.

The only thing I would expect is the basket, backboard and maybe paint but the fact the usual knee-jerk reaction was to say "must check all others", suggests no checks have ever been done.

Other than that, the photo shows a clean frame, any idea how old it is? It looks new enough that the "time to check" might be some years away in which case the supervision during installation is the point to review.