A Chilliwack man was sentenced to three months behind bars to be served on weekends after pleading guilty to dangerous driving causing death and dangerous driving causing injury.
In 2011, Sukhvir Singh Grewal was behind the wheel with two passengers when he crashed his Honda Civic while travelling south on Rockwell Road.
Nineteen-year-old Drew Helgason was killed in the crash, and 16-year-old Courtney Lewis was seriously injured.
“I’ve never been so scared in my life,” Lewis said. “It was just terrible.”
The group of friends had travelled to Harrison Hot Springs for a day at the beach. But a quick trip to get cigarettes at around 7:30 p.m. turned tragic when Grewal lost control of his car and hit a parked car and a boat crane.
Grewal was driving at a high rate of speed at the time of the crash.
He was originally charged with six counts, including impaired driving causing death. But in April, he pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death and dangerous driving causing injury.
Friends and family came to Chilliwack court to provide victim impact statements.
Helgason’s mother was too upset to speak publicly.
During Lewis’ statement, she claims that both she and Helgason pleaded with Grewal to slow down just minutes before the fatal crash.
She is still suffering from daily pain as a result of her injuries.
“I’m only 18 years old and I feel like I’m 100,” she said.
Grewal hasn’t driven since the crash, and had no prior driving infractions. He was sentenced to three months in custody to be served on weekends.
Helgason’s friends and family said they are disappointed with the short sentence and hope others will learn from this senseless accident.
With files from Julia Foy
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