A truck driver who was in the middle of a dangerous driving trial in Windsor has pled guilty to a lesser charge.
Late Friday, Lovepreet Singh, 29, pleaded guilty to careless driving causing death under the Ontario Highway Traffic Act (OHTA).
He was on trial for two counts of dangerous driving causing death under the Criminal Code of Canada (CCC).
Singh’s trial started Monday and had three weeks remaining in evidence before Friday’s guilty plea.
Assistant Crown Attorney Bryan Pillon and defence lawyer Kas Marynick did not elaborate on the sequence of events that led Singh to plead to lesser charges.
A conviction of dangerous driving causing death could have led to a potential maximum sentence of life in prison, according to the CCC.
On the other hand, a potential sentence for careless driving causing death could now lead to a maximum sentence of two years less a day in jail and a maximum fine of up to $50,000, according to the OHTA.
Singh will now face a sentencing hearing on June 12.
Car engulfed in flames
On Sept. 23, 2022, dashcam video shown in court this past week shows the eastbound 401 traffic backing up near Belle River Road because of construction.
The truck prosecutors said was driven by Singh approaches a long line of traffic in the slow lane before it collides with a small white sedan.
The collision forces a second vehicle – an SUV – to drive erratically off the road, to safety.
The passengers in the SUV and the sedan were all members of the same family on their way to Toronto from Windsor.
The sedan and transport truck caught fire and would become completely engulfed in flames before the driver and passenger could be rescued.
The transport truck also caught fire.
Singh suffered burns to his arms and right hand; allegedly from trying to rescue the sedan occupants.
Accused statements inadmissible
On Wednesday, Justice Bruce Thomas ruled statements made by Singh at the roadside to police, in the ambulance to a paramedic, and the hospital emergency room to a different officer were inadmissible.
Justice Thomas found the OPP officer “forgot” to read Singh his secondary caution at the hospital.
That’s a warning that a person does not have to speak to authorities a second time, if they have previously spoken to an official.
The judge did find police gave Singh all other cautions and warnings that anything he said could be used against him.
