A GoFundMe has been set up for 25-year-old Raminderjeet Singh who died when the truck he was driving went through the guard rail of RW Bruhn Bridge in Sicamous last Saturday.

By noon on Tuesday, the GoFundMe created by fellow truck driver Cynthia Caglayan had raised $27,460 of its $50,000 goal.

Caglayan said she had set up the GoFundMe on behalf of Raminderjeet’s sister, Sukhmanpreet Kaur and their parents to help the family in this difficult time.

“We believe, This 25 year old man died doing what he loved. Driving. We don’t really know what happened to cause this death,” she wrote.

She added: “All funds raised will go towards the needs of his family. His body will be sent to India for burial if the family wishes, and I hope any funds raised will assist in this for his family. His sister, Sukhmanpreet Kaur, is away in Australia and his devastated parents are in India. My understanding is they will be coming to Canada to deal with this huge loss. We have confirmed his family members through his work and by speaking with them directly.”

She wrote: “We will be releasing funds to them when they arrive in Canada. We will assist them in setting up a Canadian bank account where all proceeds will be transferred. This we hope will help with their costs while they are here in Canada. This is a monumental loss and no family should lose a loved one this way.”

Reports say that the truck was from Mountain Peak Transport in Abbotsford and that Raminderjeet Singh was an experienced driver who had been with the company for only a few weeks.

Sicamous RCMP said on Tuesday that on Saturday, August 24 at approximately 6:45 a.m., they responded to a report of a single tractor trailer collision.

The investigation shows the victim’s truck struck the west end of the bridge as it descended down the hill eastbound onto the bridge. The truck then struck the north side curb of the bridge, and then crossed the bridge deck, before plunging through the south side railing and into the channel below.

Initial assistance was provided by Royal Marine, Search and Rescue, BC Emergency Health Services, and the Fire Department.

The driver, and only occupant, was initially not located. With assistance from the RCMP’s Dive Team, the driver was later found deceased.

Due to the significant damage caused to the bridge deck, the bridge was closed until it was made safe.

The RCMP said: “Evidence collected confirms no other vehicle(s) contributed to this collision.”

They added: “If anyone has any information, they’re encouraged to contact the Sicamous RCMP directly at (250) 836-2878.”