India origin driver says Canada wedding tragedy not his fault

By IANS

Vancouver : The driver whose pickup truck rammed into an Indo-Canadian wedding procession in British Columbia last week killing six guests has said the accident wasn’t his fault.


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Bachitar Singh Brar, 71, told Sher-e-Punjab Radio, a community radio Monday that he also feels for the families of the bride and groom, whose wedding day was marred by the tragedy.

The accident occurred Friday night in Abbotsford, British Columbia. Around 30 people mostly belonging to the Indo-Canadian farming community were walking from one house to another singing traditional Indian wedding songs.

A car was meant to follow the procession with its hazard lights flashing but before it could get out of the driveway, Brar’s Chevrolet pickup truck ploughed through the procession. Many guests were sent flying into a nearby two-metre high ditch while others were pinned under the truck.

Three men and three women, between their mid-teens and late 50s, were killed. Another 17 people, mostly women and children, were injured.

Brar, who is a farmer, said he was on his way back from a blueberry cannery on that fateful night and became confused when he saw lots of people on the road. He said he couldn’t brake in time. The next thing he knew, people were lying on the ground.

Gurvinder Dhaliwal, a local resident said Brar was emotional, trying to explain what he doesn’t really understand.

“He’s in a lot of pain but said there was nothing he could do,” Dhaliwal said.

“He lost control. He said it was dark and he couldn’t see anything on the road and by the time he saw the people, it was too late.”

Brar said he’s very upset about what happened and is trying to come to terms with the enormity of it all, the Star newspaper reported.

“I will meet with the bride’s and groom’s families when they’re ready to talk, as well as the relatives of those who lost their lives,” Brar said.

Despite the tragedy, Harsimran Mahil and Jarnail Grewal went ahead Sunday with their wedding ceremony that family members from across the continent had travelled to attend, although it was a scaled-down version of the grand one that was planned.

Meanwhile, police are trying to put together a timeline of Brar’s movements before the accident.

Constable Casey Vinet of the Abbotsford police department said Brar understands the magnitude of the tragedy and that he has family support.

“We’ll be looking at such things as where he was, what he was doing and who he may have had contact with in the hours leading up to this terrible tragedy,” Casey said.

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