Scene from the early morning of June 14, 2019. Harvinder Singh Toor has been acquitted of all charges in connection with a crash that left one dead and another with life-long injuries. Toor was found not guilty in BC Provincial Court on Tuesday of dangerous driving causing death and dangerous driving causing bodily harm after the semi he was driving crashed into the back of an SUV stopped at a red light at the intersection of Highway 97 and Bartley Road on June. 2019. The force of the collision killed Carlo Cirilla, who was behind the wheel of the SUV, and seriously injured his passenger, Gilles Laferriere, who still walks with a cane and suffers from other health problems. During his summation, the judge in the case said there was no dispute Toor fell asleep at the wheel moments before the crash. He was traveling between 91 km/h and 96 km/h at the time of impact and did not brake until the moment of the collision. However, despite the fact that Toor’s actions led to Siirila’s death, the judge was unable to agree with the Crown’s theory that he knew we were drowsy and in danger of falling asleep. “I find that there is no credible evidence that Mr. Toor was aware that he fell asleep,” the judge noted in his ruling. “Having found that Mr. Toor fell asleep at the wheel moments before the crash and that there is no evidence that he continued to drive when he was aware of the risk of falling asleep, I find that the Crown has not proven (his guilt) beyond a reasonable doubt. “The events of 14 June 2019 are tragic. Mr Siirila lost his life and Mr Laferriere was seriously injured. There is no doubt that Mr Toor was the driver responsible for the collision, however the evidence does not prove his fault the degree that allows me to find him guilty. “Therefore, I am exonerating Mr. Toor of the charges.”
