Family of teen killed in collision oppose man’s bail
Orangeville 46-year-old has two prior convictions for impaired driving
Family and friends of a Mississauga man killed earlier this month by an alleged drunk driver — who has two prior convictions for impaired driving — rallied outside a Brampton courthouse this week to protest efforts by the accused to get bail.
Jagrajan Brar, a 19-year-old Lorne Park Secondary School student, died in the Oct. 10 three-vehicle collision.
Donning a jail-issued orange outfit, with low-cropped hair and glasses, Peter Simms, 46, of Orangeville, appeared in court Wednesday via Zoom video conference.
During a brief appearance, he was told by justice of the peace Sarah Keesmaat that his case would be adjourned to Nov. 6 to give Simms’s lawyer and the prosecutor time to schedule a date for the bail hearing.
The bail hearing could happen on that day depending on the court’s ability to set aside time.
During the video call, the victim’s father Rob Brar panned the camera allowing those watching, including Simms, to see a small group of protesters gathered outside the courthouse with placards demanding “justice for Jag” and “no bail” for repeat offenders.
The victim’s uncle Nar Sandhu said his family is concerned about the public safety risk if Simms gets bail. Sandhu said Simms’s two prior convictions for impaired driving should be enough to block his release.
“We were rallying to make sure that he does not get bail and to raise public awareness,” said Sandhu, who also attended Wednesday’s hearing via Zoom, with his sister and Brar’s mother, Rupinder Sandhu.
“The prospect of him getting bail scares us.”
Simms has been charged with one count of operating a vehicle while impaired causing death, one count of dangerous operation of a vehicle causing death and one count of failure to stop after an accident that resulted in death.
Police were called shortly after 12:30 a.m. on Oct. 10 to the intersection of Mineola Road and Hurontario Street in Mississauga, where three vehicles were involved in a collision. A man and a woman were treated at the scene for minor injuries; another woman was taken to hospital with non-lifethreatening injuries. Brar was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police alleged that the car driven by the accused rear-ended another vehicle before crossing into oncoming traffic and colliding head-on with Brar’s Honda Civic.
“It’s a complete shock that this can happen on the opposite side of the road,” Sandhu said. “It’s so senseless. We’re devastated.”
He said his nephew, who was just finishing up high school, had ambitions of becoming a journalist or lawyer.
Peel Region police allege that the accused attempted to flee the scene on foot but was arrested. They confirmed Wednesday that Simms has two convictions for impaired driving in Toronto and Brampton dating back to the 1990s.
After further investigation, police last week charged a second driver who they alleged engaged in dangerous and aggressive driving behaviour with Simms, which contributed to the collision.
Mohammad Natur, 19, of Mississauga, was charged with dangerous operation causing death, dangerous operation causing bodily harm, failure to stop after an accident resulting in death and failure to stop after an accident resulting in bodily harm.
Despite recording a significant drop in collisions and speeding fines in Peel Region since the pandemic shutdown began, there has been a spike in is up to 36 this year compared to 23 fatalities in all of 2019.
Jason Miller’s reporting is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative.