Father Sentenced After Tragic Crash Claims Wife and Son

A father has been sentenced after a devastating car crash in Mangaweka that claimed the lives of his wife and young son, leaving a family in deep sorrow and a community in shock.

Simranjeet Singh, a software developer who moved to New Zealand from India in 2022, was driving his family north on State Highway 1 on December 29, 2024, when his vehicle crossed the center line and collided head-on with a van. The crash claimed the lives of his wife, Sumeet Sumeet, and their 2-year-old son, Agambir Singh Dhanju. Their daughter, Baanee Kaur, survived but suffered severe internal injuries and required months of medical treatment.

During the sentencing at Auckland District Court, Singh, who has no memory of the crash, expressed deep remorse and described the grief that follows him every day. "Every morning starts with grief and every evening ends with it," he said in a report submitted to the court.

The judge, Debra Bell, acknowledged the profound and tragic consequences of the crash, which devastated Singh’s family and left the community in mourning. She noted that the driver of the van, who was also injured, chose not to seek financial compensation due to the immense loss already suffered.

Singh pleaded guilty to two charges of careless driving causing death and two charges of careless driving causing injury. He appeared in court with family and friends by his side, who provided emotional support during the proceedings.

Defence lawyer Dale Dufty stated that Singh had no memory of the accident but that two witnesses saw him driving normally before the crash. Dufty suggested that Singh may have fallen asleep at the wheel. However, the police prosecutor noted that Singh had a clean driving record and no prior convictions.

Judge Bell sentenced Singh to 18 months of intensive supervision, 12 months of driving disqualification, and a $2,500 reparation payment to the van driver. She emphasized that the consequences of the crash were "tragically catastrophic" for Singh and his family.

Despite the tragedy, Singh has shown resilience, continuing to care for his daughter and rebuild his life. A Givealittle page was created to support him and his daughter, reflecting the community’s efforts to help a father who has already lost so much.