AI Generated Summary
- A 29-year-old truck driver of Punjab origin has been sentenced to six years in prison by a court in Quebec, Canada, after pleading guilty to dangerous driving that resulted in the deaths of a woman and her 11-year-old son.
- The proceedings attracted considerable public attention in Quebec, particularly because the victims included a young child and the evidence established that mobile-phone distraction had played a role in the tragedy.
- The case centred on a devastating collision near the Saint-Hubert borough of Longueuil, where Singh was operating a truck when the accident occurred.
A 29-year-old truck driver of Punjab origin has been sentenced to six years in prison by a court in Quebec, Canada, after pleading guilty to dangerous driving that resulted in the deaths of a woman and her 11-year-old son. The accident, which occurred in July 2022 on Highway 30 near Montreal, also left 10 other people injured.
The convicted driver, identified as Baljeet Singh, received the prison sentence following a joint recommendation submitted by the prosecution and defence. In addition to imprisonment, the court imposed a 10-year prohibition on driving.
The case centred on a devastating collision near the Saint-Hubert borough of Longueuil, where Singh was operating a truck when the accident occurred. During the judicial proceedings, evidence revealed that he had been engaged in an online game on his mobile phone while driving, raising serious concerns about distracted driving and road safety.
The collision claimed the lives of 42-year-old Nancy Lefrançois and her son, Loic, aged 11. Ten other individuals sustained injuries in the incident, making it a major road tragedy in the region.
Singh pleaded guilty in April to dangerous driving causing death, acknowledging his criminal responsibility for the fatal incident.
The investigation also uncovered developments following the accident that complicated efforts to bring Singh before the Canadian judicial system.
Immediately after the collision, Singh was admitted to a hospital for treatment following nervous shock. However, he disappeared from the medical facility the following day, prompting investigators to initiate efforts to establish his whereabouts.
Authorities subsequently traced his movements and discovered that he had travelled to Toronto before departing Canada for India. Investigators later established that he had made his way to California in the United States.
With Singh remaining outside Canadian jurisdiction, authorities issued an international arrest warrant seeking his detention.
The prolonged search ended in 2025 when US federal agents apprehended him in California. Following his arrest, extradition proceedings were undertaken, eventually resulting in his return to Canada to face criminal charges arising from the 2022 collision.
Under Canadian criminal law, dangerous driving causing death is a serious offence that can attract a maximum punishment of life imprisonment. Nevertheless, the Quebec court accepted the six-year custodial sentence jointly proposed by the prosecution and defence, together with the decade-long driving restriction.
The proceedings attracted considerable public attention in Quebec, particularly because the victims included a young child and the evidence established that mobile-phone distraction had played a role in the tragedy.
The case has also brought renewed attention to the potentially devastating consequences of using electronic devices while operating heavy commercial vehicles.
Road safety concerns surrounding distracted driving remain particularly significant for commercial transport, where the size and weight of trucks can substantially increase the severity of collisions.
The sentencing concludes a criminal case that extended across international borders and involved investigative cooperation between Canadian and American authorities.
For the victims’ families and those injured in the collision, the judgment marks a significant legal development nearly four years after the fatal highway accident.
