A 25-year-old man has been charged in relation to a fatal collision that occurred in Surrey in  2020.

On December 15, 2020, at approximately 2:45 p.m., Surrey RCMP received a report of a collision involving a pedestrian and an unoccupied cargo truck near 144 Street and 61A Avenue. The pedestrian, who was on the sidewalk at the time of the collision, succumbed to her injuries.

On October 10, 2023, 25-year-old Jeo Kurian was charged with one count of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing death. The accused will have his first appearance in court at the end of October.

“This was a tragic and devastating loss for the victim’s family, and has also impacted many people within our community,” said Criminal Collision Investigation Team Sgt. Tom Boyce on Tuesday. “Our team has remained committed to collecting all evidence required throughout this complex investigation, in order to bring this matter before the courts.”

The victim was identified as Paramjit Masutta, 48, who saved her eight-year-old twin daughters by pushing them out of the way either side as the vehicle approached her.

Masutta, who was walking home from school with her daughters, was dragged under the vehicle after being hit, according to a lawsuit in B.C. Supreme Court that was filed last year by her husband, Daljit Singh Masutta and his family, seeking damages from the truck’s driver as well as Amazon and two logistics companies.

The lawsuit alleged that the delivery truck was parked illegally and facing the wrong direction on 144 Street with the handbrake off. The driver was not present when the incident occurred.

None of the allegations have been proven in court and all the defendants have denied any negligence.

A simultaneous suit was also been filed by the victim’s family against ICBC, seeking to cover damages including the funeral costs and counselling costs associated with her death.