The woman who fled a viral confrontation in Katong with a cyclist on her bonnet has entered a guilty plea
A woman involved in the viral Katong altercation where she drove off with a cyclist on her car’s bonnet has pleaded guilty. The incident, which sparked public outrage, occurred in May 2022. The woman faces charges of rash driving, causing hurt, and failing to report the accident promptly. Sentencing is scheduled for a later date.
A 49-year-old Singaporean woman, Elaine Michele Ow, has pleaded guilty to a charge of a rash act endangering the safety of cyclist Nicolette Tan Shi’en. The incident took place in Katong and gained attention after a video of the altercation went viral in May 2022. Sentencing is scheduled for a later date.
During the incident on June 2, 2022, Elaine Michele Ow, a cooking instructor, was driving to teach a class at i12 Katong mall. Cyclist Nicolette Tan Shi’en felt that Ow’s car was too close at a slip road, leading to an altercation. Tan exclaimed for Ow to watch it, which Ow heard through her partially open rear left window. The situation escalated, resulting in Tan climbing onto the car’s bonnet as Ow drove off. Ow pleaded guilty to a charge of a rash act endangering Tan’s safety. Sentencing is scheduled for a later date.
Following the altercation, Ow continued driving until she stopped at a red light at a cross junction. Tan caught up with Ow and stood in front of her car with her bicycle, leading to a verbal exchange between the two.
Despite Ow’s attempts to leave, Tan positioned herself in a way that prevented Ow from driving off safely. Ow, who was running late for a class, wound down her window and asked Tan to step aside. During the exchange, Ow apologized to Tan, who responded by saying, “Your behavior is embarrassing.”
During the altercation, Ow accused Tan of being aggressive, and as she attempted to drive around Tan, their vehicles made contact, leading to Tan shouting about her bike being hit. The verbal exchange escalated, and Tan tried to open Ow’s car door, prompting Ow to warn her not to touch the vehicle. Eventually, Ow picked up Tan’s bicycle, moved it to the side, and reiterated her need to get to her class. Meanwhile, Tan attempted to call the police and stood in the middle of the second lane, obstructing traffic.
In the aftermath of the heated exchange, Ow proceeded to inch her car forward, reportedly nudging Tan’s legs. In response, Tan jumped onto the bonnet of the car. Ow, muttering to herself, accelerated and drove approximately 100m with Tan clinging to the bonnet.
Tan banged on the windscreen and screamed while holding onto a windscreen wiper. When Ow stopped at the mall carpark entrance, Tan slipped off the bonnet but continued holding the wiper until passers-by convinced her to let go.
Tan sought medical attention for muscle strains in her neck, shoulder, and hip. Deputy Public Prosecutor Mark Chia highlighted Ow’s previous conviction for drink driving in 2006 and recommended a short detention order (SDO) along with a driving ban for Ow. Sentencing is scheduled for a later date, while Tan’s case is at the pre-trial conference stage.
