Authorities in Peel Region are investigating a heartbreaking chain of events after the body of a young woman, identified as 20-year-old Kourtney Khan, was discovered inside a wrecked vehicle at a tow yard — hours after her family had reported her missing.
The discovery came following a fatal two-vehicle collision that occurred in the early hours of Saturday, November 1, near Queen Street and Chinguacousy Road in Brampton, Ontario. Police say the crash happened around 4:20 a.m., involving a Honda Civic and another vehicle driven by a 17-year-old.
Two Lives Lost in the Tragic Crash
When emergency responders first arrived, they found only the driver of the Honda Civic — later identified as 31-year-old Sukhdev Singh, a Lyft driver — deceased at the scene. Singh, a husband and father to a young baby girl, had been working a rideshare shift that night to make up for a canceled warehouse shift.
Initially, police believed Singh was the sole victim. However, hours later, Khan’s family reported her missing after being unable to reach her. Using a shared tracking app, her last known location was traced to the crash site.
Following the missing person report, officers revisited the impound yard where both vehicles from the collision had been towed. Upon closer examination of the “demolished” Honda Civic, police discovered Kourtney’s body embedded in the wreckage of the back seat.
Emergency crews from Brampton Fire and Emergency Services were called to the scene and used specialized equipment to carefully remove her body from the mangled vehicle. Police confirmed that Kourtney’s body had remained inside the car for more than 12 hours before being found — she was reported missing around 4 p.m., and her body was located shortly after 5 p.m. that same day.
Charges and Ongoing Investigation
The 17-year-old driver of the other vehicle involved in the crash has been charged with two counts of dangerous driving causing death and failing or refusing to comply with a demand for testing. Due to provisions under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, their identity cannot be released.
Peel Regional Police have launched a comprehensive internal review into how Kourtney’s body went unnoticed during the initial response. “At this time, there was no immediate or clear indication of a passenger,” police said in a statement.
The Ontario Coroner’s Office confirmed that police and paramedics initially reported only one fatality from the scene. Once the second body was found, the coroner attended the impound yard for a separate examination.
Lyft and Community Respond
A Lyft spokesperson expressed condolences, saying:
“We are deeply saddened by this tragic loss. Our hearts are with the families and loved ones of the driver and rider, and we have reached out to offer our support. We stand ready to assist law enforcement with any investigation.”
A GoFundMe campaign organized for Sukhdev Singh’s family has raised over $53,000 to help support his wife and infant daughter.
Kourtney Khan’s death has left her loved ones shattered. Friends have described her as a bright and loving young woman whose life was cut tragically short in an unimaginable set of circumstances.
Ongoing Review
Peel Police say a full review of the incident is ongoing to determine how the oversight occurred and to ensure that similar tragedies are prevented in the future.
“Our thoughts remain with the families and all those affected by this tragic collision,” police said in their statement. “We recognize the profound impact of this tragedy and ask that the privacy of the families involved be respected as they continue to grieve this loss.”
The Special Investigations Unit (SIU) confirmed it will not be investigating, as no police misconduct has been alleged in connection with the collision or subsequent discovery.
As the community mourns the loss of Kourtney Khan and Sukhdev Singh, questions remain about how such a devastating oversight occurred — and how long it will take for their families to find closure after this unimaginable tragedy.
