Peel Regional Police say a 17-year-old male passenger is dead and another 17-year-old male driver has been charged with criminal negligence causing death after a single-vehicle crash in Brampton.
Police said emergency crews were called to the intersection of McVean Drive and Da Vinci Avenue, southeast of Countryside Drive, just before 11:15 p.m. on Monday with reports a BMW had crashed into a tree.
The heavily damaged vehicle could be seen in a ditch on the east side of McVean Drive as parts of the vehicle were scattered across the road.
Police said the passenger died at the scene. A spokesperson said the vehicle’s driver was taken to a trauma centre by paramedics in serious but non-life-threatening condition.
Police originally reported early on Tuesday that the accused was arrested for impaired driving. But after further examination, officers later said the suspect didn’t register on screening as being above the legal limit.
Investigators have charged the 17-year-old male driver with criminal negligence causing death. A spokesperson said the car was travelling at a high rate of speed at the time of the crash.
The victim was identified by the principal of Castlebrooke Secondary School as Jaipartap Sidhu, a Grade 12 student at the school.
“This tragedy has brought great sadness to the students and staff at Castlebrooke. Jaipartap was a caring and well-liked stidents — a valuable member of our school community,” Jeff Bertrand wrote, adding the school’s flag was lowered and a memorial table was setup.
“Jaipartap’s death is deeply felt by everyone at the school. Even students who did not personally know Jaipartap may be affected by this loss.”
Tandeep Banga told Global News at the crash scene that he is a friend of both the driver and the passenger. He called Sidhu a “one-of-a-kind kid, always smiling.”
Banga said he knew him since childhood. Banga described the moment he arrived to the crash scene earlier after getting “lots of phone calls” about the incident.
“It was really devastating … sad to see him gone right now.”
Friends gathered for a vigil in honour of Sidhu at the scene of the crash Tuesday evening.
Officers closed a large portion of McVean Drive for several hours as the major collision bureau attended the scene to gather evidence. The road reopened just before 6 a.m. on Tuesday.