Pickering, ON – The sentencing for a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Pickering has been announced. The incident, which occurred in 2019, resulted in the death of a 25-year-old woman and serious injuries to two others.
The driver, 29-year-old Sukhvinder Singh Rai, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death and two counts of dangerous driving causing bodily harm. He was sentenced to six years in prison and a 10-year driving ban.
The court heard that Rai was driving his pickup truck in the wrong direction on the highway when he collided head-on with a car carrying three people. The impact caused the car to spin out of control and hit a transport truck.
The 25-year-old woman, who was a passenger in the car, was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver and another passenger suffered serious injuries and had to be extricated from the vehicle by emergency responders.
During the sentencing hearing, the court heard that Rai had been drinking and using cocaine before getting behind the wheel. He also had a history of driving offenses, including a previous conviction for impaired driving.
In his decision, Justice Joseph Di Luca stated that Rai’s actions were “reckless and selfish” and showed a “complete disregard for the safety of others.” He also noted that Rai had not shown any remorse for his actions.
The victim’s family and friends were present in court for the sentencing and read emotional impact statements, expressing their grief and anger over the loss of their loved one.
The Crown had requested a sentence of eight to 10 years, while the defense argued for a sentence of four to five years. In the end, Justice Di Luca settled on a sentence of six years, taking into account Rai’s guilty plea and his lack of criminal record.
The sentencing has brought some closure to the victims’ families, but they will forever be impacted by the loss and injuries caused by Rai’s reckless and irresponsible actions. This tragic incident serves as a reminder of the devastating consequences of impaired and dangerous driving.
