An Ontario truck driver who had been on the run from Canadian authorities for over nine months following a fatal crash that claimed the lives of a Manitoba mother and her eight-year-old daughter has been released on bail. Navjeet Singh, 26, was granted bail after a contested hearing before provincial court Judge Michael Clark on August 28. Conditions of his release include surrendering his passport and driver’s license, refraining from driving, residing at a specific address in Ontario, and weekly reporting to Manitoba police.
Singh was apprehended at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport a week prior, upon his arrival from an Ethiopian Airlines flight. He was facing charges, including dangerous operation of a vehicle causing death, stemming from the November 15, 2024, incident near Altona, Manitoba, where Sara Unger, 35, and her daughter, Alexa, lost their lives.
During the bail hearing, Crown attorney Michael Himmelman mentioned that Singh was believed to have been driving over the speed limit when he ran a stop sign and collided with Unger’s SUV. The crash impact was described as explosive, with the SUV being propelled over 53 meters. Himmelman also highlighted concerns about Singh’s driving log being falsified and the data recorder in his vehicle being turned off at the time of the collision, suggesting potential driver fatigue as a contributing factor.
Despite Singh’s lack of a criminal record, the prosecutor argued that he posed a flight risk, emphasizing that Singh was aware of the arrest warrant against him when he left Canada. Singh’s lawyer, Abhay Gautam, countered by stating that Singh returned to Canada voluntarily to face the charges. Singh, who arrived in Canada as a student in 2020 and later became a truck driver, expressed shock and stress following the crash, which led him to leave the country to support his family.
Judge Clark acknowledged the severity of the charges against Singh but emphasized the importance of granting reasonable bail unless there is just cause to deny it. Singh’s bail conditions, which include restrictions on contacting victims’ relatives or witnesses, a curfew, and a financial bond, were deemed sufficient to address concerns about his release.
The case is scheduled for a court appearance in December.
