A sombre sentence has been passed in a Canadian court, closing a tragic chapter that began on a British motorway. Sukhjinder Singh, a 31-year-old Indian national working as a long-haul lorry driver, has been jailed for his role in a devastating crash that claimed the lives of a mother and her four-year-old daughter.
The catastrophic incident unfolded on the M62 near Huddersfield. Singh, at the wheel of a heavy goods vehicle, failed to react to slowing traffic ahead, resulting in a multi-vehicle collision. The impact was fatal for 39-year-old Louise Clancy and her young daughter, Isla, who were travelling in a red Mazda.
A Family Shattered
The court heard heart-wrenching victim impact statements from Louise's husband and Isla's father, Andrew Clancy. He described the immeasurable void left in his life, stating the crash "ripped the heart out of our family" and that his world had been "shattered into a million pieces." The profound grief of losing his wife and only child in a single, preventable moment was palpable throughout the proceedings.
Questions Over Licensing and Training
The case has cast a spotlight on the standards of international driver licensing and the recruitment of foreign lorry drivers. The court was informed that Singh held an Indian licence and had obtained a Canadian permit, but questions remain about the adequacy of his training to handle a large goods vehicle on busy UK roads.
Judge Simon Phillips KC highlighted the "catastrophic consequences of a moment's inattention" for those driving vehicles of such size and weight. Singh pleaded guilty to two counts of causing death by dangerous driving, acknowledging his responsibility for the tragedy.
A Sentence and a Lifetime of Guilt
Sukhjinder Singh was sentenced to three years and ten months in prison. He will also be banned from driving for five years upon his release. While the sentence brings a legal conclusion, the emotional scars for both the Clancy family and the driver, who expressed deep remorse, will last a lifetime.
