Charges laid in connection to crash that left 2 kids with brain damage: RCMP
Multiple charges have been laid in connection to a devastating crash that left two children with brain damage more than a year ago.
In an update Wednesday on the Dec. 27, 2020, collision, Coquitlam RCMP said "months of painstaking work" led to charges against 22-year-old Nupur Singla. Singla was charged with three counts of dangerous driving causing bodily harm and flight from police, Mounties said.
The crash happened at about 9 a.m. near the Brunette Avenue exit of Highway 1. An officer was conducting radar speed detection on the eastbound lanes of the highway and attempted to pull over the driver of a grey Dodge Charger.
B.C.'s police watchdog said in its subsequent investigation of the incident the driver did not stop and instead exited the highway at Brunette Avenue. A Kia Sorento was stopped at the intersection, and was stuck by the driver of the Charger.
The Sorento, which had three kids and two adults inside, was flipped upside down by the impact. Two of the children were seriously injured.
The Independent Investigations Office of B.C. announced last February there was no evidence of police wrongdoing in connection to the crash.
The Savic family, of Burnaby, had been on its way to a grocery store on the morning of Dec. 27. A family friend told CTV News after the incident a 15-year-old boy had a broken arm as a result of the crash. The younger children, 9 and 13, had injuries that resulted in brain damage, which impacted their speech and motor skills. They also had broken ribs, the family friend said.
She said the family had moved from Serbia about 3.5 years before the crash.
"This type of investigation is very complex in part due to the technical nature of investigating collisions," said Staff Sgt. Quentin Frewing in a news release.
"As a result, it takes considerable time and effort from many police officers and experts to build the file to the standard expected of Crown Counsel before it can be sent for charge recommendation."
Singla's first court appearance is scheduled for March 2.
With files from CTV News Vancouver's Kendra Mangione and Angela Jung
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Police inaction allowed Texas massacre to continue with catastrophic consequences: experts
The decision by police to wait before confronting the gunman at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde was a failure with catastrophic consequences, experts say. When it was all over 19 students and two teachers were dead.

Indigenous B.C. filmmaker says he was refused entry on Cannes red carpet for his moccasins
A Dene filmmaker based in Vancouver says he was "disappointed" and "close to tears" when security at the Cannes Film Festival blocked him from walking the red carpet while dressed in a pair of moccasins.
Putin warns against continued arming of Ukraine; Kremlin claims another city captured
As Russia asserted progress in its goal of seizing the entirety of contested eastern Ukraine, President Vladimir Putin tried Saturday to shake European resolve to punish his country with sanctions and to keep supplying weapons that have supported Ukraine's defence.
Police inaction moves to centre of Uvalde shooting probe
The actions — or more notably, the inaction — of a school district police chief and other law enforcement officers have become the centre of the investigation into this week's shocking school shooting in Uvalde, Texas.
'What happened to Chelsea?' Vancouver march demands answers in Indigenous woman's death
Around a hundred people gathered at noon Saturday at the empty Vancouver home where Chelsea Poorman’s remains were found late last month to show their support for her family's call for answers and justice.
Canada to play for gold at men's hockey worlds after victory over Czechia
Canada and Finland won semifinal games Saturday to set up a third straight gold-medal showdown between the teams at the IIHF world hockey championship.
Tear gas fired at Liverpool fans in Champions League final policing chaos
Riot police fired tear gas and pepper spray at Liverpool supporters forced to endure lengthy waits to get into the Champions League final amid logistical chaos and an attempt by UEFA and French authorities to blame overcrowding at turnstiles on people trying to access the stadium with fake tickets on Saturday.
48K without power one week after deadly storm swept through Ontario, Quebec
One week after a severe wind and thunderstorm swept through Ontario and Quebec, just over 48,000 homes in the two provinces were still without power on Saturday.
Explainer: Where do hydro poles come from?
The devastating storm in southern Ontario and Quebec last weekend damaged thousands of hydro poles across the two provinces. CTVNews.ca gives a rundown of where utility companies get their hydro poles from, as well as the climate challenges in the grid infrastructure.