Drunk, speeding, off-duty taxi driver Arshdeep Singh sentenced for crash

This out-of-control taxi hit a concrete wall at 148km/h with five passengers inside – and a judge says it’s simply “incredible” they and their drunk driver all survived.

Off-duty taxi driver Arshdeep Singh wanted to impress and be popular with his new friends – but he ignored their yelling, screaming pleas to slow down.

Told, as he ferried the group from one party to another, he was “drunk and off his head”, Singh confidently replied: “It’s all right, I know how to drive.”

Tragically for all involved, he was very wrong – Singh took the corner of Main South Road and Seaford Rd, Old Noarlunga, at 108km/h, and lost control, mounting three median strips and a kerb.

When his taxi slammed into a concrete wall, it was travelling at 148km/h – and on Tuesday, the District Court said it was “incredible” no one had been killed. Footage released by the court shows the moment of impact.

Off-duty taxi driver Arshdeep Singh loses control and crashes his car at 148km/h on the corner of Main South Rd and Seaford Rd. Source: District Court.

Judge Paul Muscat ruled Singh’s reckless conduct deserved no less than five years’ jail and a 14-year driving ban.

“You were driving your vehicle way too fast while heavily intoxicated … you must have drunk a considerable amount of alcohol (because) your estimated blood alcohol was 0.139,” he said.

“You should never have agreed to drive your new friends anywhere that night … you knew there were too many passengers in the vehicle and should never have allowed that to occur.

“The risk should have been obvious … it’s incredible that none of the passengers were injured more seriously than they were – or, worse, killed.”

Arshdeep Singh. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Mariuz

Mr Singh’s taxi following the crash. Picture: Roy VanDerVegt

Singh, 20, pleaded guilty to four aggravated counts of causing serious harm, and one aggravated count of causing harm, by dangerous driving.

He also pleaded guilty to one count of refusing to submit to an alcotest – all charges arose from the crash in September 2021.

Last month, he apologised to the court and his five victims for his actions, saying he accepted full responsibility for the crash.

In sentencing on Tuesday, Judge Muscat said Singh’s blood alcohol level made him 82 times more likely to crash.

He said Singh had admitted responsibility from the moment police arrived, attended hospital to apologise to his victims in person and asked his bail be cancelled so he could start his “inevitable” prison term.

“(The hospital visit) is evidence of your deep sense of guilt and remorse … it would not have been an easy thing to do, and I give you credit for facing up to them in person,” he said.

He imposed a 2 1/2-year non-parole period, and also fined Singh $1100 for failing to properly blow into the breath test taken at the scene.

Singh will be deported to India once paroled.