Man Convicted in Fatal Collision that Killed Couple

A man has been convicted in connection with the fatalities of a married couple following a head-on collision. Simarjeet Singh was operating a Citroen C4 Picasso on the A47 Leicester Road, close to Belton in Rutland, on November 18, 2022, when witnesses observed him veering into the lane of opposing vehicles. His vehicle collided with a Hyundai i10, which was being driven by Gail Gale, aged 58, and carried her husband, Ian, aged 64, as a passenger. Both members of the couple were declared deceased at the site of the incident, whereas Mr. Singh sustained only minor injuries. According to Leicestershire Police, the 35-year-old individual lacked a complete driving licence and valid insurance coverage when the collision occurred. An inquiry determined that the swerving maneuver performed by Singh was “indicative of being due to loss of concentration or distraction of the driver”. He asserted that a stone or an animal had been present in the roadway, but law enforcement stated that no proof supporting this claim was discovered. The police force further noted that neither driver was believed to have been exceeding speed limits. Singh, 35, residing on Dishley Road, Leicester, was convicted of six charges pertaining to the collision, encompassing two counts of causing death by careless driving, during his appearance at Leicester Crown Court. Following the jury’s delivery of its verdict, Emma Johnson, the daughter of Mr and Mrs Gale, disclosed that she had identified her parents’ remains mere hours after childbirth. The 34-year-old stated: “There is absolutely no justification for driving without a licence, putting everybody else on the road at risk.” She continued: “Knowing mum won’t get the chance to see her youngest grandchild or have a relationship with my four children is heartbreaking.” “She will miss out on having this relationship through no fault of her own. It is absolutely devastating to me.” Detective Constable Anna Andrew commented: “This has been a heartbreaking incident to investigate.” She further remarked: “The actions of Singh show the devastating impact that careless driving and driving without a licence or insurance can have.” “There is no excuse or any reason to ever do this. It is putting lives, including your own, at risk.” Singh has been granted conditional bail and is scheduled for sentencing at the same court on January 17. For updates, follow BBC Leicester on Facebook, X, or Instagram. Story submissions can be sent to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk or via WhatsApp at 0808 100 2210. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding our external linking policy is available.