Calgary MLA Manmeet Bhullar dies in car crash, mourned by many

Rising Calgary Progressive Conservative MLA Manmeet Bhullar was killed Monday afternoon in a car accident.

CBC reports Bhullar was helping another motorist on a snowy highway that had rolled onto the median. He exited his vehicle when a semi-truck lost control, hit the median and stuck Bhullar as he was walking between his car and the rolled over vehicle.

“Manmeet Singh left us while he was doing what he loved more than anything – helping someone else,” reads a statement from his family.

“The light in our lives went dark today.”

Bhullar’s family is asking for privacy during this difficult time.

Government officials are responding to his passing as well. Premier Rachel Notley issued a statement grieving his loss and offering condolences.

““This is a terrible tragedy and our first thoughts are for Mr. Bhullar’s family and loved ones, as well as his constituents, his caucus colleagues, Members of the Legislature, and the people of Alberta,” reads the statement.

“We have lost our colleague, Calgary-Greenway has lost a friend and effective voice in the legislature, and most of all, we have all lost a passionate advocate for Alberta.”

Bhullar was first elected in 2008 and served as Minister of Infrastructure, Minister of Human Services and Minister of Service Alberta.

According to the Calgary Hearld, Bhullar was a 28-year-old second year law student with a sociology degree when he was elected to office. Despite his youth, he had already served as an advisor to Jim Prentice and then as a federal cabinet minister.

Mayor Naheed Nenshi said in a statement he is “utterly gutted” to hear of the sudden passing of Bhullar, as he was “a true warrior for fairness and justice.”

“In my faith tradition, when we hear of a death in the community, we say Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un, which means ‘to Allah (God) we belong and to him we shall return.’ It seems right to say that to a man of such deep, abiding, and unshakeable faith,” said Nenshi.