A Windsor student who was driving over 200 kilometers an hour when he crashed in Lambton County three years ago, killing three classmates and injuring another, is to be sentenced in-person, in January.
Jovanpreet Singh, 28, from India, appeared virtually in Windsor court Tuesday.
He pleaded guilty in June to three counts of dangerous operation causing death and one count of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing bodily harm.
In a joint recommendation, the Crown and defence asked that Singh be sentenced to serve two years and eight days in jail, noting eight days previously served, concurrent on counts one, two and three.
A joint recommendation was also sought to apply 12 months jail concurrent to the count of dangerous operation causing bodily harm.
Assistant Crown Attorney Ryan Iaquinta said there were a number of reasons the sentence was recommended.
"The manner of driving was very dangerous," said Iaquinta. "Speeds of over 200 km/h represent a significant public safety risk and it caused a large and violent accident."
The recommendation was delivered three years to the day after the crash on Oil Heritage Road, between Aberfeldy Line and Gum Bed Line, at around 1:30 a.m. on October 4th, 2019.
In a statement of facts, Iaquinta told the court that Singh, an international student at St. Clair College, was driving his classmates back to Windsor after they had finished a shift at High Park Farms in the Petrolia area.
Iaquinta said Singh's BMW failed to negotiate a curve, left the roadway hitting a stop sign, and a tree, before rolling multiple times.
He said the speed at which the vehicle was moving tore the roof off of the vehicle, ejecting the passengers in the back seat at different times.
All three 19-year-old passengers in the rear of the vehicle were pronounced dead at the scene and it was determined that they were not wearing seatbelts.
Jovanpreet Singh, who was 25-years-old at the time, escaped serious injury and the passenger in the front seat walked away from the collision, but was treated later for injuries he sustained.
"There needs to be a significant jail sentence to address specific and general deterrence and denunciation for this manner of driving," Iaquinta added.
Iaquinta said Singh has shown remorse for his actions, had no criminal or driving record and would likely be made inadmissible to Canada after serving his sentence and be required to leave the country.
Counsel also recommended jointly that DNA be submitted by Singh, he be banned from driving or owning weapons for the next 10 years, and that he pay a $200 Victim Fine Surcharge within six months.
Singh was also initially charged with three counts of criminal negligence causing death, criminal negligence causing bodily harm, and obstructing a peace officer.
Lambton OPP were initially investigating the crash as a single vehicle collision, but said in March 2020 they had determined another vehicle was involved and a second person was charged.
The pronouncement of the sentence will be delivered January 5, 2023.
-with files from Stephanie Chaves and Kirk Dickinson