Multiple charges laid against Iqbal Singh Sidhu in fatal motor vehicle collision in Surrey

Superintendent Shawn Gill

MULTIPLE charges have been laid against Iqbal Singh Sidhu, 69, of Surrey in relation to a fatal motor vehicle collision that occurred last year.

On March 22, 2017, at approximately 6:25 p.m., the Surrey RCMP responded to a report of a serious motor vehicle collision at the intersection of 72nd Avenue and 152nd Street where a GMC Safari van had collided with a Suzuki Swift sedan. The female driver of the sedan was pronounced dead at the scene.  Around the same time, police began receiving additional reports of separate hit and run collisions along 72nd 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, 2018, Sidhu was arrested in Surrey and has now been charged with:

* 1 count of manslaughter

* 1 count of impaired driving causing death

* 1 count of operation with over 80 mg 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 mg of alcohol causing bodily harm

* 3 counts of criminal negligence causing bodily injury

* 2 counts of failure to stop at scene of accident

On September 26, Sidhu appeared in Surrey Provincial Court 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,” said Superintendent Shawn Gill, Community Services Officer, on Thursday. “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.”

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, is asked to 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.