A man has been sentenced after a devastating crash that claimed the lives of his wife and two-year-old son—a head-on collision in Mangaweka on December 29, 2024–an accident he says he has no memory of, but one that haunts him every day, The New Zealand Herald reported.
Singh has been sentenced to 18 months of intensive supervision and disqualified from driving for a year.
Simranjeet Singh appeared at Auckland District Court on Monday, after pleading guilty to two charges of careless driving causing death and two further charges of careless driving causing injury.
Singh had immigrated to New Zealand from India in 2022 to work as a software developer. His wife and children had joined him later, and the family’s holiday to the Nelson region in December 2024 was intended as a joyful reunion. Instead, it ended in tragedy.
Singh’s vehicle had crossed the centre line on State Highway 1 while travelling from Wellington to Auckland, striking an oncoming van. His wife, 38-year-old Sumeet Sumeet, and son, Agambir Singh Dhanju, were killed in the crash. His daughter, Baanee Kaur, survived but suffered serious internal injuries and spent four months recovering in a spinal device, Herald reported.
Judge Debra Bell described the crash as having “profound and tragic” consequences and told Singh that nothing she could say would bring back his wife and son. She said the consequences of that brief moment had been “tragically catastrophic”.
The driver of the van suffered broken bones after being crushed against the front of his vehicle but declined financial reparation, acknowledging the enormous loss Singh had already suffered.
Police said Singh had a clean driving record and no previous convictions, describing him as a person of “very good character”. However, the prosecution still sought emotional reparation for the injured van driver.
Singh’s defence lawyer, Dale Dufty, said his client had no memory of the crash. Two witnesses saw Singh driving normally before his vehicle drifted into the southbound lane. Dufty suggested Singh may have fallen asleep, though fatigue was not considered a factor due to a rest stop taken in Bulls 45 minutes earlier.
The crash occurred near a 100km/h passing lane. Two vehicles had to swerve out of Singh’s way before his car collided with the van. One car’s side mirror clipped his vehicle just moments before the impact.
All passengers in Singh’s vehicle were wearing seatbelts, and his son was in a baby car seat. Singh himself suffered a broken nose and severe bruising.
A report provided to the judge revealed that Singh had been tormented daily by the loss of his family. He said that every day began and ended with grief.
Judge Bell also ordered Singh to pay $2500 in reparation to the van driver. She acknowledged that imposing community work would impact Singh’s ability to care for his daughter. She noted Singh's remorse and the character submissions that described him as kind, reliable and devoted to his family. He had continued to support and care for his daughter in the aftermath of the accident and expressed a wish to remain in New Zealand with her, as she had grown to love her new home.