An Indian-origin truck driver has been sentenced to six years in prison in Canada after admitting that he was playing a mobile game while driving when his tractor-trailer caused a deadly multi-vehicle crash in Quebec in 2022.
Baljeet Singh, who was 29 when he pleaded guilty, was sentenced at the Longueuil courthouse in Quebec on Wednesday. The case involved a major crash on Highway 30 near Brossard and Longueuil, in the Montreal area, that killed a mother and her 11-year-old son and injured several other people.
The sentence comes after Singh pleaded guilty in April 2026 to charges including dangerous driving causing death and dangerous driving causing bodily harm. The court also imposed a 10-year driving prohibition. According to reporting on the judgment, Singh will serve four years, four months and four days after credit for time already spent in custody.
What Happened in the 2022 Crash?
The fatal collision happened when traffic was slowing near a construction zone on Highway 30. Singh was driving a 53-foot tractor-trailer when he failed to slow down and struck vehicles ahead, triggering a seven-vehicle pileup.
The victims were 42-year-old Nancy Lefrançois and her 11-year-old son, Loïc Chevalier. Loïc died in hospital after the crash, while his mother died at the scene. Ten other people were injured, according to Canadian media reports.
Evidence presented in court showed that Singh was using his cellphone while driving. He acknowledged that he had been playing Ludo, an online board game, on the phone when the collision occurred. Reports also said investigators found repeated cellphone use and other driving violations in evidence from his truck.
Court Evidence Highlighted Distracted Driving
The case focused heavily on distracted driving. Court evidence indicated that Singh had used his cellphone multiple times before the crash and was not paying proper attention to the road as traffic slowed.
A review of dashboard-camera footage also reportedly found more than 40 traffic violations over his final three trips, including improper lane changes and failures related to required driving and rest periods.
The judge treated the use of a cellphone to play a video game while operating a heavy truck as an aggravating factor. At the same time, Singh’s guilty plea, lack of previous convictions and expressions of remorse were considered as mitigating circumstances.
Singh Left Canada After the Crash
The case continued for several years after the 2022 collision.
Following the crash, Singh initially spoke with investigators but later left Canada. Authorities eventually issued an arrest warrant, and he was located in the United States.
U.S. federal agents arrested Singh in California on August 21, 2025, after which he was returned to Canada to face the charges. He later pleaded guilty and accepted responsibility for the dangerous-driving offences.
A Case Highlighting the Risks of Phone Use Behind the Wheel
The case has renewed attention on the dangers of distracted driving, particularly when large commercial trucks are involved.
A tractor-trailer can weigh many times more than a passenger vehicle, meaning even a short period of inattention can have serious consequences when traffic suddenly slows. U.S. road-safety research also identifies cellphone-related activities, including manually operating a phone, as an important form of driver distraction.
For the families affected by the Quebec crash, the consequences have lasted far beyond the moment of impact. The deaths of Nancy Lefrançois and her young son, along with the injuries suffered by others, became the central focus of the court proceedings.
Singh’s six-year prison sentence and 10-year driving ban now mark the latest chapter in a case that began with the deadly 2022 Highway 30 collision.