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Impaired driving charges laid 16 months after fatal Abbotsford crash
A 43-year-old man has been charged more than a year after a fatal crash in Abbotsford, B.C.
Jaswinder Deol was arrested and charged on June 8, the Abbotsford Police Department said in a news release Tuesday.
Online court records indicate Deol's first court appearance is scheduled for June 23 in Abbotsford. He is not in custody.
The charges against Deol are impaired operation causing death, operating a conveyance while impaired causing death and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing death. They stem from a collision that occurred on Feb. 3, 2024.
On that date, officers were called to the 31000 block of Old Yale Road for a serious crash involving two vehicles.
Images from the scene showed the two vehicles involved were a red minivan and a white pickup truck. The pickup's front-end had come off, but the minivan was by far the more damaged of the pair.
One of the drivers, an 84-year-old man, died at the scene. In their statement Tuesday, police identified the victim as Phil Anderson and shared a message from his family.
'Phil Anderson was a man deeply devoted to his family and community,' the statement reads.
'His sudden passing came as a profound shock, leaving a deep void not only in the hearts of his loved ones but also among his church family and colleagues at the Abbotsford School District. Phil embraced life fully, and even at 84, he continued to live with purpose and joy. We miss him dearly. During this incredibly difficult time, we are especially grateful for the support of the Abbotsford Police Department.'
The surviving driver was detained at the scene of the crash, police said at the time.
Over the intervening 16 months, investigators from the department's major crime unit have worked with the traffic enforcement unit and the Lower Mainland Integrated Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Service to gather evidence and present a case to the B.C. Prosecution Service, police said.
'AbbyPD remains committed to identifying and removing impaired drivers from our roadways,' said Sgt. Paul Walker, in the release.
'Impaired driving has devastating impacts—not only for the families directly affected, but for the entire community.'
