Jaskeerat Singh Naukhria/Image: GOFUNDME
An Indian-origin man was killed in a head-on collision on a highway in British Columbia, Canada, while three others travelling with him were injured, two of them critically. The crash occurred on Saturday near Merritt.The deceased was identified as Jaskeerat Singh Naukhria, 24, who moved to Canada in 2024. A GoFundMe representative said Naukhria had received approval for his permanent residency last week, according to Canadian media reports.Naukhria was driving a white Toyota RAV4 on Highway 5, also known as the Coquihalla Highway, when a black Toyota Tacoma entered the highway near Lac Le Jeune and collided with his vehicle, witnesses told police.Police said they had received multiple complaints about a vehicle travelling southbound in the northbound lanes before the crash. Officers responded to the incident at around 8.30 am.The three passengers travelling with Naukhria were taken to hospital. Two were reported to be in critical condition. All four people in the RAV4 were aged between 24 and 38.The pickup truck’s 22-year-old driver, a resident of Coldwater, was its only occupant.
He suffered minor injuries and was detained on suspicion of impaired driving, police said.An online fundraiser has been launched in Naukhria’s name, with a target of $100,000 to help cover funeral and memorial expenses, related costs and financial support for his family.“The sudden passing of Jaskeerat has left our family, friends, and everyone who knew him heartbroken,” the fundraiser page states.