Trial begins for driver in fiery fatal Peace Arch border crash

A trial is underway for a Washington state man accused of causing a fiery crash that killed a B.C. pastor at the Peace Arch border crossing five years ago.

Gurbinder Singh, 40, pleaded not guilty on Monday to dangerous driving causing death in the explosive collision that left Pastor Tom Cheung dead on May 2, 2019.

Cheung’s widow, two sons and several church members were in court to witness proceedings.

1:29 Victim of fiery Peace Arch border crossing crash identified

Many of the facts of the deadly collision are not disputed, and the case will hinge on Singh’s intentions at the time, along with the possible argument that he is not criminally responsible by way of a mental disorder (NCRMD).

The agreed facts in the case include that Singh was travelling north at 120 km/h in a 30 km/h zone on Highway 99 in a Porsche Cayenne at the time of the crash.

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He struck the rear of the Toyota Sienna Cheung was driving back to Canada after fuelling up on the U.S. side of the border.

The collision pushed the Sienna into a flowerbed 65 metres (213 feet) from the point of impact, where the minivan burst into flames.

Cheung was killed on impact, the court heard. Singh was still in the driver’s seat of his vehicle when witnesses arrived, and Canada Border Services Agency members took him into custody at the scene.

0:49 Video captures fiery collision near Peace Arch border crossing

A mechanical inspection found both vehicles were in good working order, and a blood test found under 10 milligrams of alcohol in Singh’s system.

The court heard testimony from its first witness, a CBSA officer who rushed to the scene following the collision.

He told the court Singh had scratches on his hands and the back of his head and described putting him in handcuffs.

Singh, he testified, was co-operative but wouldn’t answer questions and was muttering incoherent phrases.

The trial is slated to last four days.