The body of a 20-year-old woman was discovered in a wrecked car in Brampton, Ontario, more than 12 hours after a fatal crash. Peel Regional Police reported that the woman was a passenger in a vehicle involved in a collision early Saturday morning. The crash occurred around 4:20 a.m. at the intersection of Queen Street and Chinguacousy Road.

Initially, police stated that only the driver of the Honda Civic, identified as 31-year-old Sukhdev Singh, was killed in the accident. However, after family members reported the woman missing, authorities were alerted to her last known location, which was near the crash site. Police spokesperson Tyler Bell-Morena confirmed that the woman’s body was found around 5:30 p.m. when the car was taken to a towing yard.

According to police, first responders did not initially identify the woman as a passenger. "There was no immediate or clear indication of a passenger," Bell-Morena said. The driver was extricated from the vehicle, but the search did not reveal the presence of another person. The vehicles involved in the crash were seized for further analysis.

After receiving reports of the missing woman, police revisited the crash scene and the impound yard. They conducted a thorough examination of the rear passenger compartment of the Honda Civic, where they found the woman’s remains embedded in the wreckage. Fire crews were called to assist in extracting her from the vehicle using specialized equipment.

Peel police have launched an investigation into how the second victim was overlooked in the immediate aftermath of the crash. Bell-Morena stated, "We are leading a joint debrief with our partners to fully review the incident," acknowledging the significant impact of this tragedy on the families involved.

A 17-year-old driver of the other vehicle, an Audi, has been charged with dangerous driving causing death and failing to comply with a demand for a roadside breath sample. The Audi reportedly ran a red light at a high speed, colliding with the Honda Civic on the passenger side. The force of the crash pushed both vehicles to the northwest corner of the intersection, where the Honda struck a pole. Two passengers in the Audi sustained minor injuries and have since been released from the hospital.

Dilraj Singh, a close friend of Sukhdev, expressed concern over the handling of the situation by emergency responders. He questioned how the second victim could have been missed, especially given that Sukhdev was operating a ride-hailing service. "Maybe she was alive and could’ve been saved," Singh remarked, highlighting the critical time lost in confirming the second victim's status.

Sukhdev Singh had been working for Lyft and was on a trip to drop off the woman when the crash occurred. He lived in the area with his wife and their three-month-old daughter. The investigation into the incident continues, with police emphasizing the need for a thorough review to prevent similar occurrences in the future.

Peel police have met with the families affected by the crash to offer support during this difficult time. The Special Investigations Unit, which oversees police conduct in cases involving death, has stated it is not investigating this incident.