2 men sentenced in fatal Surrey, B.C., hit and run that dragged man underneath car

WARNING: This story contains graphic details.

Two men have been sentenced to three years in prison for their actions in a fatal hit and run in which they dragged a man under their car for more than a kilometre last year in Surrey, B.C. 

Indian nationals Gaganpreet Singh and Jagdeep Singh, both 22 and not related to one another, pleaded guilty earlier this year to dangerous driving, failing to remain at the scene and indignity to a dead human body, related to an incident on Jan. 27, 2024.

In his sentencing decision last Wednesday, Judge Mark Jetté outlined a timeline of events, beginning with two witnesses who were driving northbound on University Drive when they saw a man lying near the inside part of the northbound lane around 1:30 a.m.

The man, a 47-year-old father and respected singer and Cree Sundancer, is identified as J.G. in the judge's decision.

"They called out to the male but he did not respond. [The witnesses] drove ahead, parked nearby, and called 911 for medical assistance," Jetté said.

While the witnesses called for help, Gaganpreet Singh was driving a Ford Mustang northbound. The Mustang's owner, Jagdeep Singh, was sitting in the passenger seat. A third man, who was not charged and not named in the ruling, was in a rear passenger seat.

The Mustang struck the man lying on University Drive and continued to drive away with the man underneath the vehicle, according to an agreed statement of facts included in Jetté's ruling. 

The witnesses saw the collision and the car drive away and stop about 50 metres north on University Drive.

While still on the phone with 911, one of the witnesses ran up to the Mustang and saw both Gaganpreet and Jagdeep outside the car, looking under it and seeing a man, J.G., trapped underneath.

The two men returned to the car and Gaganpreet drove away with J.G. still underneath.

About 1.3 kilometres after learning a person was trapped underneath their car, Gaganpreet and Jagdeep drove into a cul-de-sac and dislodged J.G.'s body.

The two men drove away and left J.G. lying on the side of the road.

Police found the Mustang "a short time later" and took the two men into custody.

"It is agreed that J.G. — who was Indigenous and 47 years old — was alive for some of this, but died at some point before he was dislodged from the vehicle. It is also agreed that no criminal offence was committed when J.G. was initially struck by the Mustang," Jetté said in his decision.

Jetté said aggravating factors in the sentencing include the impact on J.G.'s family and the greater Indigenous community.

He noted both Gaganpreet and Jagdeep showed "complete indifference" to the man underneath their car. 

Jetté also said J.G.'s injuries were "horrific" and added, "the impact on his family and greater Indigenous community has been significant." 

Mitigating factors included the men's young age, their lack of a previous criminal or driving record and that they both pleaded guilty at an early opportunity. Both expressed remorse.

Jetté sentenced both men to three years in prison. The sentence also included a three-year driving prohibition after the period of imprisonment.

"Each bear a high level of moral blameworthiness for their conduct," Jetté said.

Both men are expected to be deported after their sentence or if they are released on parole.