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Indian-origin robber involved in Canada crash that killed Chennai couple, grandson: Reports
Gagandeep Singh, 21, was trying to flee from a police chase and was pronounced dead at the accident scene, local media reports said.
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A highway accident site. / Representational Stock Image
A 21-year-old Indian-origin robber was involved in the Highway 401 Whitby crash that claimed the lives of an elderly couple travelling from India and their grandson on Apr.29, according to local media reports.
The crash resulted in the deaths of Manivannan Srinivasapillai, 60, Mahalakshmi Ananthakrishnan, 55, hailing from Chennai and their three-month-old grandson, Aditya Vivaan. The boy's parents – Gokulnath Manivannan and Ashwitha Jawahar - were also injured but survived the crash.
The collision reportedly started with police chasing the accused in a liquor store robbery in Bowmanville, Ontario, located in the municipality of Clarington.
Gagandeep Singh, facing three counts of theft charges and one robbery-related charge, was behind the wheel of the U-Haul truck that was involved in the multi-vehicle collision. Singh had been speeding and driving the wrong way while trying to flee from a police chase. He was later pronounced dead at the accident scene.
The cargo truck had another male passenger, 38-year-old Manpreet Gill, who was transported to hospital with serious injuries.
Later, Federal Conservative party leader Pierre Poilievre said a stronger bail system in Toronto could have prevented the deaths. However, Toronto criminal defence lawyer Daniel Brown said the release of Singh on bail was not surprising considering his "relatively minor" offences.
Meanwhile, a funeral was held on May.8 for the infant grandson killed in the crash. "We are at a complete loss of words to describe the agony and vacuum in our hearts knowing we can never hold our child Aditya Vivaan, who gave us so many precious memories in such a short time, in our hands again," the boy's father said in a statement on behalf of his wife, released by Ontario's Special Investigations Unit.
"His small toys and clothes remain spread around our home, and we have no courage in us to even enter our home which is filled with our only son's memories," Gokulnath added. "The pain of my injuries pales as I grapple with the shock and loss of my parents and my only son on the same evening, and the ordeal continues with my wife's continued suffering from surgeries and repeated flashbacks of the trauma. The aftermath has left an indelible mark on our lives, with profound grief."
Gokulnath said his parents were cremated earlier on May.6.
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