The victim of the Saturday morning crash in downtown Victoria, following a police pursuit involving another vehicle, has been identified by family members.
25-year-old Rajinder Singh, affectionately known as Ronnie, was driving his taxi when a truck fleeing from police collided with his vehicle, crushing the driver’s side.
Originally from India, Ronnie moved to Canada as an international student with hopes of providing a better life for his family. He initially settled in Toronto before relocating to Victoria four years ago.
The fatal incident occurred in the early morning hours of October 19th, when a Nissan Titan truck, fleeing from police, crashed into the taxi Ronnie was driving near the intersection of Douglas and Humboldt Streets.
VicPD had attempted to stop the truck around 1 a.m. after observing it driving erratically on the 900-block of Douglas Street, close to Courtney Street. The truck failed to stop and was shortly thereafter involved in the fatal collision, which also impacted a BC Transit bus.
Despite the immediate efforts of emergency responders, Ronnie was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the truck was arrested and taken into custody.
“Ronnie had this incredible ability to uplift the mood of the whole room the moment he walked in. He was full of energy, always hardworking, and so honest. Half of Victoria loved him. He was truly a bright soul,” said Sharad Chaudhary, Ronnie’s best friend of the past four years.
The Independent Investigations Office of BC (IIO) has launched an investigation into the incident, which involves the actions of police leading up to the collision.
In the wake of this tragedy, Ronnie’s family and friends are gathering to honour his memory. A remembrance ceremony will be held at 11 a.m. on October 20th at the intersection of Humboldt and Douglas Streets, followed by an Ardaas (prayer) at Gurudwara Singh Sabha, located at 470 Cecelia Road.
A GoFundMe page has also been established to support Ronnie’s family in India and assist with funeral expenses.
The fundraiser was organized by his close friend, Amit Jagopotra, who described Ronnie as a joyful and hardworking individual. “He would always go to work with a smile on his face,” Jagopotra shared. “He was working his hardest to support his family back in India. Everyone who knew him is devastated by his loss.”
The community is encouraged to contribute to the fundraiser in order to help provide some financial relief to Ronnie’s grieving family.
For those wishing to donate, the GoFundMe link can be found here.
