The truck driver who held police in Quebec and Ontario in suspense for nine hours by refusing to stop for a distance of 850 km was charged with dangerous driving on Thursday.
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Lovepreet Singh, 27, appeared by videoconference in the afternoon at the courthouse in Cornwall, Ont. Charges of absconding and breaching his release conditions were also filed against him.
This incredible police pursuit began around 12:15 p.m. Wednesday, after the authorities received a 911 call to report the erratic behavior of a trucker in Beaumont, near Quebec, on Highway 20.
Despite the flashing lights of the patrol boats, Singh would never have stopped. He even allegedly caused a relatively minor accident by hitting a Lévis police patrol car, which came as reinforcements. Fortunately, the officer was not injured.
police roadblock
He headed for Montreal. Once in Saint-Hyacinthe, he tried to escape a police roadblock by overtaking several vehicles on the shoulder. He then took Highway 30 westbound, presumably to avoid traffic. Once in the Salaberry-de-Valleyfield area, the trucker headed for Highway 530, then Highway 201, before returning to Highway 20 westbound.
The Sûreté du Québec (SQ) tried various techniques to bring it to a stop, but ultimately decided that the safest solution for road users was to let it roll until it stopped. since he was basically respecting the speed limits.
The heavyweight then crossed the border between Quebec and Ontario, to drive for nearly 500 km on Highway 401.
Photo courtesy, Danny Fortin/Dernière Heure Flash
Nail carpet
The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) also tried several maneuvers to put an end to this interminable pursuit, in particular by unrolling carpets with nails and by clearly inviting him to stop at the road scales.
Cynthia Savard, OPP Spokesperson
However, nothing worked. The authorities finally decided to follow him more discreetly and wait until he had no choice but to stop.
In a highly anticipated ending, Lovepreet Singh finally pulled up at 9 p.m. at a gas station in Brampton, about 40 miles from Toronto, to make a purchase.
“We arrested him as soon as he got out of his truck, explains Sergeant Cynthia Savard, spokesperson for the OPP. He did not resist, he did not expect it at all. »
Not the first time
This is the third time the Kitchener, Ont., resident has been arrested for dangerous driving in that province. He has two other similar cases in progress, in addition to a fourth for a history of possession of property obtained by crime.
In addition, in Rivière-du-Loup, in 2020, he had 10 demerit points added to his record and had to pay an $874 fine for driving at almost double the legal limit in an area of 70.
Over the next few days, he will be repatriated to Quebec by the SQ to face justice again. Charges similar to those filed in Ontario will be added to his case.
Reference-www.journaldemontreal.com