An Ontario truck driver who had been on the run from Canadian authorities for over nine months following a fatal crash that claimed the lives of a mother and her eight-year-old daughter in Manitoba has been released on bail.
Navjeet Singh, 26, was granted bail with strict conditions, which included surrendering his passport and driver’s license, refraining from driving any vehicle, residing at a designated address in Ontario, and regularly reporting to police in Manitoba. The decision came after a contested bail hearing before provincial court Judge Michael Clark on August 28.
Singh was apprehended a week prior at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport upon his arrival in Canada on an Ethiopian Airlines flight. He was wanted on charges, including dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing death, following the tragic accident on November 15, 2024, near Altona, approximately 90 kilometers southwest of Winnipeg, where Sara Unger, 35, and her daughter, Alexa, lost their lives.
During the bail hearing, Crown attorney Michael Himmelman revealed that investigators believed Singh was driving at a speed of at least 91 km/h in an area with a speed limit of 100 km/h when he disregarded a stop sign, resulting in the collision with Unger’s SUV.
Court records indicated that the road conditions were normal on the night of the crash, with no environmental issues reported. Police attempted to interview Singh at the hospital following the incident but were informed he was in a state of shock. Despite being contacted by officers later on, Singh failed to appear for the promised interview.
One eyewitness described the crash as an “explosion,” stating that the SUV was propelled over 53 meters, with severe damage to the front and all windows shattered. The prosecutor highlighted that Singh’s truck’s black box was turned off during the collision, and there were suspicions of falsified driving logs, suggesting potential driver fatigue as a contributing factor.
Despite Singh’s lack of criminal record, the prosecution argued that he posed a flight risk, citing his awareness of the arrest warrant when he left Canada. In response, Singh’s lawyer, Abhay Gautam, emphasized that Singh willingly returned to Canada to face the charges and expressed remorse for the tragic outcome.
Singh, who arrived in Canada from India as a student in 2020 and later obtained a work permit, has been supporting his family financially. His lawyer mentioned that Singh’s family relied on his earnings to cover expenses, including his mother’s medical bills.
Judge Clark acknowledged the severity of the incident but emphasized the necessity of providing reasonable bail unless there are substantial grounds to deny it. Singh’s bail conditions, which also include refraining from contacting the victims’ relatives or witnesses, adhering to a curfew, and a financial surety, were deemed sufficient to address any concerns about his release.
The case of Navjeet Singh is scheduled for further court proceedings in December.
