Man pleads not guilty to charges stemming from 2024 crash near Albany, P.E.I.

A 26-year-old man has pleaded not guilty to the five charges he faces in Summerside Supreme Court, including two counts of impaired driving causing death.

The charges stem from a single-vehicle crash in Albany in August 2024 that left two young people dead. Dona Shaji, 23, was pronounced dead at the scene, while 24-year-old Jugal Kishore Mehta later died of his injuries.

RCMP told CBC News the vehicle was coming from Charlottetown when its driver lost control in the early hours of that morning — leaving the roadway and flipping over.

In February, Thommachen Thomas Panackal elected for his case to be heard before a judge in P.E.I.'s higher court. 

His case made a first appearance in that court in March. He entered the not-guilty pleas at another appearance earlier this month. 

Panackal is facing five charges in total: two counts of impaired driving causing death, two counts of driving with over 80 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood causing death, and one count of driving with a suspended licence.

His licence was suspended at the time of the crash due to a previous impaired driving conviction handed down five months before the crash. Court records show he was living in Charlottetown at the time of the August 2024 collision.

Case related to death of 2 people in August crash in Albany heads to Supreme Court of P.E.I.

2 months ago

Duration 1:13

The case of a 26-year-old man charged with impaired driving causing death will now be heard in P.E.I. Supreme Court. Thommachen Thomas Panackal, 26, did not appear in Summerside Provincial Court on Wednesday, but his lawyer made the election on his behalf. CBC's Nicola MacLeod has the story.

None of the allegations have been proven in court, but all signs point towards Panackal's case heading to a trial. 

The defence and Crown will meet next week to begin pre-trial discussions, and the case will be back in court in May.