MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A truck driver is going to jail for a year after forcing a driver off the I-68 bridge at Cheat Lake near Morgantown in a January snowstorm.
Sukhjinder Singh was sentenced Monday to the maximum time in jail after pleading guilty last week to negligent homicide.
Pennsylvania resident Kevin Lataille was driving home from working at a Morgantown restaurant when the tractor trailer Singh was driving pushed Lataille’s car off the bridge into icy Cheat Lake. His body was recovered a week later.
Monongalia County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Brandon Benchoff said the court followed sentencing guidelines under the old law, which is one year in jail and a $1,000 fine.
“Singh pled guilty to vehicular homicide, a.k.a. negligent homicide,” Benchoff said. “Thankfully, the judge made the correct decision and imposed the maximum penalty for that crime as it existed back in January.”
“Thankfully, our legislature has made some changes this year, maybe in pursuance to the death of Kevin, so now there will be further and more strict penalties,” Benchoff said. “That includes potential felony convictions and prison time for this exact same crime.”
Lataille’s wife, Lisa, reported Kevin missing in January after the accident that occurred in very limited visibility. One week after the crash, she was along the banks of Cheat Lake when his car and body were pulled from the water. On Monday, Lisa, with other family members, came to the courtroom wearing purple shirts, calling for justice.
“I want people to know how good of a guy he was and that he got along with everybody,” Lisa Lataille said. “He had a wonderful heart and would help anybody.”
The prosecution and family were satisfied with the verdict and relieved the process has come to an end.
“The maximum penalty sadly then was just a misdemeanor, but we are grateful, and the family is grateful that the maximum penalty of one year in jail and a fine of $1,000 was imposed,” Benchoff said.
Because Singh challenged his extradition order from California, he will receive substantially less credit for time served there. Additionally, Singh will also be eligible for aggravated felony deportation once his sentence has been served.
“Because of that and because of his challenge to the authority of our court to bring him back here, he will have significantly less time served on this crime than he would have otherwise,” Benchoff said.
Story by Mike Nolting, WAJR