NRI “Gagandeep Singh” Confirmed as Driver of U-Haul Van
in Fatal Head-On Crash in Canada, also killed in collision
Los Angeles/May 09, 2024
NRIpress.club/Ramesh/ A.Gary Singh
In the aftermath of last week's tragic incident on Highway 401, where a wrong-way police pursuit led to the deaths of four individuals, including an infant, the Durham Regional Police Service has mandated all officers and 911 dispatchers to complete a compulsory online course on suspect pursuits within the next two months.
Deputy Police Chief Chris Kirkpatrick confirmed to the Star that as of last Friday, every sworn officer and emergency dispatcher in Durham has been instructed to undertake a "refresher" course on suspect-apprehension pursuits. The deadline for completing this online training is early July.
While the pursuit course is an annual requirement, Kirkpatrick noted that the recent fatal 401 crash prompted a reminder for staff to complete the refresher. He emphasized the importance of being proactive in ensuring that all personnel are up-to-date with pursuit protocols.
The Durham Police have faced scrutiny regarding the April 29 pursuit of a U-Haul van traveling the wrong way on Highway 401. The chase involved multiple police cruisers and culminated in a fiery, multi-vehicle collision.
The pursuit originated from a robbery at a Bowmanville LCBO, where a suspect allegedly threatened an off-duty Durham officer with a knife. Ontario's police watchdog, the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), is currently investigating the incident, focusing on the actions of two officers.
According to an internal report obtained by the Star, supervisors had called off the pursuit minutes before the collision. However, officers continued the chase after the van entered Highway 401 in the wrong direction, via Stevenson Road in Oshawa.
Durham Police have refrained from commenting on the specifics of the incident due to the ongoing SIU investigation. In a statement following the crash, the force expressed cooperation with the SIU probe and extended condolences to those affected by the tragedy.
The collision claimed the lives of Manivannan Srinivasapillai and Mahalakshmi Ananthakrishnan, a visiting couple from India, along with their three-month-old grandson, Aditya Vivaan. The baby's parents survived the crash but conveyed their anguish in a public statement.
NRI Gagandeep Singh who was 21 years old, identified as the driver of the U-Haul van, also lost his life in the collision, as confirmed by the Star.
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