Updated: Truck driver abandoned victim, police say

Manjit Behniwal wasn't expecting to end up in hospital when he accepted a ride home from his job as a yoga instructor last Friday night (Nov. 6).

The Surrey resident, a 51-year-old married father of two and a recent grandfather of one, didn't insist on a lift to his front door.

He opted to get out at the intersection of 88 Avenue and 128 Street, just a few blocks away from his house.

It was about 6:30 p.m, dark and raining.

Behniwal remembers waiting for the walk light before he stepped into the marked crossing.

Police have confirmed that Behniwal was walking in the crosswalk with the walk signal in his favour.

Then a truck that was heading north on 128 turned east on to 88 Avenue and hit him.

It was an orange-coloured semi, a newer model with a number of bright lights around the top of the cab area, driving without a trailer attached.

The initial impact sent Bheniwal flying almost 10 feet.

The police accident report said Behniwal was struck down by the front of the vehicle, then dragged underneath the big truck and at least one of the wheels ran over his legs.

As the injured pedestrian lay there calling for help, the big rig stopped and the driver got out, the police report states.

Police believe the truck driver heard Behniwal, but did not approach or try to assist.

Instead, the driver got back in the truck and left the scene.

Behniwal used his cell phone to call for help.

He was rushed to hospital, where doctors performed emergency surgery to save his right leg, which had suffered more than a dozen fractures to the knee and lower leg.

There were a smaller number of fractures on his left leg.

Gurminder Behniwal EVAN SEAL/THE LEADER

On Monday, the younger of his two sons, Gurminder Behniwal, told The Leader doctors have said because of his father's high degree of physical fitness, they are optimistic he will walk again.

But the chances of him resuming a career as a yoga instructor are poor, Gurminder noted.

Gurminder said his father is suffering "deep pain" in both legs and has difficulty performing physiotherapy exercises as a result.

The family is clinging to the knowledge that the outcome could have been much worse, that Behniwal could have been killed or suffered brain or spinal injuries.

It is probably the "happiest" possible outcome given the circumstances, Gurminder said.

He wants the driver to do the right thing and turn himself in to police.

Gurminder would like to hear the driver's explanation for leaving his father in the street.

"He should have stopped and stayed there," he said of the trucker.

"In the initial stages it was an accident but what he did later [by fleeing] is a crime."

Any witnesses or anyone else with information about the case is asked to call the Surrey RCMP detachment at 604-599-0502 or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 if you want to remain anonymous.

dferguson@surreyleader.com

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