Charges recommended against drunk driver who killed 28-year-old cab driver
The Vancouver Police Department (VPD) has recommended several charges against the driver of a carshare vehicle who collided with a Yellow Cab taxi, killing the driver.
The incident took place on December 29, 2019, and occurred at approximately 3:30 am at the intersection of East 1st Avenue and Renfrew Street. Police say that a Car2Go smart car collided with the taxi, which was carrying two passengers.
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The force of the crash sent the taxi vehicle into the Royal Bank, causing damage to the building at the southeast corner of the intersection.
Emergency services arrived shortly after and provided first aid. Both drivers were taken to the hospital, where, unfortunately, the 28-year-old male taxi driver was pronounced as dead.
The driver was later identified as Sanehpal Sing Randhawa and it was discovered that Randhawa’s vehicle was t-boned when the Car2Go driver ran a red light. Police also believe that the driver evaded a nearby drunk driving checkpoint.
The driver of the car2go, a male in his 20s, was sent to the hospital with serious injuries. The two passengers of the taxi were also taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
Six charges have been recommended to Crown counsel by the VPD related to impaired driving and the dangerous operation of a motor vehicle. Police say, however, that due to the “current medical condition of the driver, it is expected that charges will not be approved at this time,” as the driver isn’t able to participate in court proceedings.
VPD also says that the suspect was in Canada at the time of the crash but has since returned to his home country. Investigators are monitoring his medical condition and say that next steps will be looked at once he reaches a condition where he can participate in a court process.
“This is an incredibly sad and tragic case for the affected families, the community and our investigators,” says Constable Tania Visintin, Spokesperson for the VPD in a police statement. “It is difficult to accept that the suspect cannot be held accountable at this time due to his medical state. However, in recommending charges, we are hoping there will be some sense of closure for the family and friends of the victim.”
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