A crowdfunding campaign has been set up for the taxi driver who was killed in an early morning crash Oct. 19 in downtown Victoria. The Independent Investigations Office of B.C. (IIO) reports the taxi was involved in a collision with a vehicle that was being pursued by police on the 900-block of Douglas Street at around 1 a.m.
Later that day, Amit Jagopotra started a GoFundMe campaign for the 24-year-old Ronnie Singh with the goal of supporting Singh's family in India as they grieve, and raising funds for Singh's cremation and costs associated with repatriating his body to India.
"Ronnie was not just a friend; he was a brother to his sister and older brother, and a devoted son to his ailing parents back in India. He was a jolly soul who spread happiness wherever he went, always ready to lend a helping hand," noted Amit Jagopotra, a friend of Singh's, in the GoFundMe page. "Working tirelessly as a taxi driver during the nights and juggling multiple jobs, Ronnie dedicated his life to supporting his family, sacrificing his own dreams to ensure theirs could thrive."
The GoFundMePage can be found at www.gofundme.com/f/help-ronnie-family. The campaign has raised $55,000 by Oct. 22.
The IIO reports the driver did not stop and was then involved in a collision with another vehicle and BC Transit bus near the intersection of Douglas and Humboldt Street. The bus was not in service at the time and had no passengers.
Despite life-saving measures, Singh was pronounced dead at the scene, and the driver of the Nissan was arrested and taken into custody.
The IIO has now commenced an investigation into the incident.