Three generations of B.C. family killed in Surrey crash

The BC Coroners Service has identified the victims of a tragic Surrey car crash as (clockwise from top left) Neelam Dhingra, Jassica Sachdeva, Vidya Wanti Sachdeva, Aneesh Sachdeva, and Reena Sachdeva.

The victims of a horrifying B.C. car crash have been identified as three generations of the same Surrey family.

The accident claimed the lives of three adults and two small children, and was described by first responders as one of the most terrible accidents they’ve ever encountered.

Family members, who asked CTV News for privacy, told CTV News the victims are a mother, her two children – a three-year-old girl and her five-year-old brother – their aunt and a grandmother.

All five were pronounced dead at the scene.

All of the deceased were in a 1994 Toyota Corolla on the Pacific Highway just north of the U.S. border around 11 a.m. Sunday when it was struck by a 2012 Dodge Caravan suspected of speeding through a red light at the intersection of 32nd Avenue.

The smaller car was sent flying into a metal pole, shearing the vehicle in half. Debris flew hundreds of metres, and the impact was so severe a pair of sunglasses were imbedded into the metal.

“I can tell you from my experience of 26 years in the RCMP attending multiple motor vehicle crashes, multiple homicides, [it’s] one of the most horrific scenes I’ve ever seen,” Surrey RCMP Sgt. Dale Carr said.

The surviving minivan driver, a 46-year-old Langley man, is being treated as a suspect in the crash. He was air lifted to hospital, where he remains listed in serious but stable condition in hospital.

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Members of the RCMP’s Traffic Services Criminal Collision Investigation team (CCIT) and the Lower Mainland Integrated Collision Analyst/Reconstruction Services (ICARS) team continue to investigate the cause of the crash.

“While we recognize the complexity of this investigation, we will use all available resources and information to ensure all contributing factors are looked at and a cause is identified,” Surrey RCMP Insp. Lee Chanin said in a statement issued to media.

“While we continue to investigate this horrific incident, our thoughts and prayers go out to the families affected by this tragic collision.”

No charges have been laid.