Martin van den Hemel

Black Press

Family and friends of a Richmond teen killed in Ladner crash last Tuesday will be setting up a scholarship in his name at his former school.

Matthew McNair graduate Inder Bali, 18, died after his Honda Accord collided with a semi tractor truck on River Road and 68th Street on Sept. 23. The crash occurred around 9 a.m. as Bali was driving to work.

A Facebook page with nearly 600 members contains numerous messages about the young man who was remembered as having a good heart and positively impacted the lives of many people he knew.

According to a speech posted on a Facebook page by Harj N Reena, Bali wanted to become an automotive technician.

"Ever since he was a little kid, he loved cars, he was always very passionate about them," the Facebook posting said. "He was the world's best brother, he always helped out at home and always got me and my sister whatever we wanted, even if he was too tired. Like just this past Sunday, he got us doughnuts in the middle of the night while we were studying."

Bali's loved ones plan to establish a scholarship in Bali's name in McNair's Automotive Service Technician Program, a program that teaches all facets of automotive operation and is a partnership between Kwantlen Polytechnic University and the Richmond school district.

Bali graduated from McNair last year and quickly put his skills to good use, landing a position at National Tire on River Road.

McNair principal Rose Sebellin said Bali took care of his family and others.

"I remember him as being a gentle, compassionate, quiet person."

Brian Barenscott, Bali's automotive teacher at McNair, described Bali as a quiet person with a gentle spirit who had passion in his eyes.

"He was sort of the individual that lit up the room when you walked in," Barenscott told The Richmond Review. "He would go out of his way to learn the material, and often at the end of the day it would be difficult to get him to leave."

Delta Police responded to a call about the crash shortly before 9 a.m. last Tuesday.

"Initial indications are that the car crossed partway into the oncoming traffic and was struck by the semi—this is yet to be confirmed by investigation," Delta Police Const. Paul Eisenzimmer said.

Weather and road conditions are not believed to have contributed to the crash, police said.