Iqbal Singh Sidhu was arrested on Tuesday in Surrey and charged with manslaughter and drinking and driving causing death. On March 22nd, 2017 at approximately 6:25 pm, the Surrey RCMP responded to a report of a serious motor vehicle collision at the intersection of 72 Avenue and 152 Street where a GMC Safari van had collided with a Suzuki Swift sedan. The female driver of the sedan was pronounced deceased at the scene.  Around the same time, police began receiving additional reports of separate hit and run collisions along 72 Avenue involving the same GMC Safari van which all occurred minutes prior to the fatal collision. 

By PD Raj – Senior Writer DESIBUZZCanada

SURREY – Multiple charges have been laid against a 69-year-old Indo-Canadian man from Surrey in relation to a fatal motor vehicle collision that occurred last spring.

Iqbal Singh Sidhu was arrested on Tuesday in Surrey and charged with manslaughter and drinking and driving causing death.

On March 22nd, 2017 at approximately 6:25 pm, the Surrey RCMP responded to a report of a serious motor vehicle collision at the intersection of 72 Avenue and 152 Street where a GMC Safari van had collided with a Suzuki Swift sedan. The female driver of the sedan was pronounced deceased at the scene

Around the same time, police began receiving additional reports of separate hit and run collisions along 72 Avenue involving the same GMC Safari van which all occurred minutes prior to the fatal collision. 

A thorough investigation was conducted by the Surrey RCMP’s Criminal Collision Investigation Team (CCIT) with assistance from the Lower Mainland Integrated Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Service (ICARS), Lower Mainland Forensic Identification Section (FIS), RCMP Forensic Laboratory Services, Surrey RCMP High Risk Target Team (HRTT), Surrey RCMP Interview Team, and Surrey RCMP General Duty officers.

The investigation required multiple reconstruction and engineering reports as well as detailed forensic lab analysis and video surveillance retrieval. Investigators spoke with countless witnesses and processed a large volume of physical evidence due the multiple crime scenes involved.

On September 25, Sidhu was arrested in Surrey and has now been charged with a total of 15 charges.

  1 count of Manslaughter

  1 count of Impaired Driving Causing Death

  1 count of Operation with Over 80 mgs of Alcohol Causing Death

  1 count of Criminal Negligence Causing Death

  3 counts of Impaired Driving Causing Bodily Injury

  3 counts of Operation with Over 80 mgs of Alcohol Causing Bodily Harm

  3 counts of Criminal Negligence Causing Bodily Injury

  2 counts of Failure to Stop at Scene of Accident

Sidhu appeared in Surrey Provincial Court Wednesday and has since been released from custody on numerous conditions. 

“The investigation conducted by our Criminal Collision Investigation Team and police partners was a long and complicated investigation in order to gather the required evidence which enabled the BC Prosecution Service to lay these specific charges,” says Superintendent Shawn Gill, Community Services Officer. “The Surrey RCMP is committed to keeping our roads safe through a number of enforcement initiatives and prevention and education efforts. Traffic safety remains a top priority for our detachment as the number of road users increases on our streets.”

Police said as this occurrence is now before the courts, no further information can be provided.

Anyone with information about this incident who has not yet spoken with police, please call the Surrey RCMP at 604-599-0502, or contact Crime Stoppers if you wish to remain anonymous, at 1-800-222-8477 or www.solvecrime.ca.