A lawsuit has been filed against two Durham Regional Police officers, Sgt. Richard Flynn and Const. Brandon Hamilton, along with the police board, following a fatal wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby on April 29, 2024.
The collision claimed the lives of three-month-old Aditya Vivaan Golkunath and his grandparents, Manivannan Srinivasapillai and Mahalakshmi Ananthakrishnan. The crash occurred when 21-year-old Gagandeep Singh, driving a rented U-Haul van and being pursued by police, drove the wrong way on the highway and struck their vehicle head-on. Singh also died in the crash.
The infant’s parents, who survived, are among the plaintiffs suing the police board, Singh’s estate, and the two officers, who face criminal negligence charges related to the pursuit. The lawsuit accuses the officers of reckless and negligent judgment during the pursuit and alleges the police board failed to provide proper training for suspect pursuits.
Durham Regional Police have acknowledged the lawsuit but cannot comment due to ongoing investigations. The pursuit began after a robbery at an LCBO in Bowmanville where the suspect allegedly brandished a knife. The suspect was initially lost but later found in Oshawa, where the chase resumed and led to the fatal wrong-way crash.
The officers’ lawyers have stated the charges are unfounded, arguing the officers were trying to protect the public from a dangerous suspect.
The plaintiffs claim ongoing psychological trauma, emotional distress, and financial burdens following the deaths of their loved ones.