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The family wiped out in U-turn crash as they planned weddings
Benedict Moore-Bridger, Kiran Randhawa and Danny Brierley22 Apr 2009
THIS is the London family who were killed in a car crash on the M1 when a motorist driving in the wrong direction hit them head-on.
Accountant Lakhdip Nagra, 27, and his sister Navjit, 28, were killed along with their mother Injerjit, 48, when a Polish driver did a U-turn on the motorway in Bedfordshire.
Their uncle, Chain Singh, 66, who was in the car with them, also died.
The accident, at 11.22pm on Saturday, came as both brother and sister were due to marry within months, and only 10 days after they had cremated their father, Shinder Nagra. The 51-year-old had died after falling down stairs at the family home.
The family were travelling back to their home in Bexleyheath, Kent, after visiting relatives in Birmingham.
Relatives and friends today described the car accident as “horrific” and said that it was a tragedy for a “loving” and “wonderful” family.
Lakhdip, known as Lucky, a senior management consultant with City firm Deloitte, was driving on the southbound carriageway of the M1, when their Jaguar was hit by Polish driver Mariusz Marcin Adamski, who did a U-turn.
The 24-year-old, who was living in Leicester, also died in the crash near Luton on Saturday night. Mr Adamski, who was driving a Volkswagen Passat, may have got confused at roadworks which narrowed the M1 down to a single lane at Luton. Navjit was sitting in the Jaguar's passenger seat, while her mother and uncle were in the back.
A close family member today laid flowers outside the family's home and said a prayer before breaking down in tears. The relative, who did not give his name, said: “What has happened is horrific.”
Jinder Hayre, a cousin of the siblings, wrote a tribute to the family on social networking site Facebook. “Auntie, Navi, Lucky and Uncle, you will be missed so much,” he wrote. “You were such a lovely and kind family. I will always miss Navi's beautiful laugh and Lucky's sense of humour. You will live on forever in our hearts.”
Navjit's wedding to her fiance, who is known as Sunny, was due to take place in June. Her younger brother was to propose to his Scottish girlfriend in a fortnight's time.
The family had been delivering invitations to Navjit's wedding just before the crash.
Viraf Avari, 28, who had studied at London School of Economics with Mr Nagra, said the deaths were “devastating”. The management consultant said: “It is so hard. Lakhdip was an incredible person. He had an amazing knack to draw people in. He was going to have an engagement party this weekend or next weekend — he was due to propose to his girlfriend.” Mr Nagra had met his girlfriend, a Scottish Punjabi, at a party in Glasgow, where she lives.
Shinder Nagra died four weeks ago. He is said to have become an alcoholic after launching a race discrimination case against his former employer Ford. He won £150,000 in 2002 after being subjected to “humiliating and intimidatory” racial abuse at the firm's Dagenham plant.
Relative Surinder Kalley, 30, who owns a shop in Bexleyheath, said although his death had devastated the close-knit family they were “moving on” and looking forward to Navjit's wedding in June. He said the family had planned to buy his newsagents to get Shinder Nagra back on his feet and off alcohol.
Lilly Liama, Mr Nagra's manager at Deloitte, said 700 guests were planning to come to his sister's wedding. She said: “I saw him last Wednesday. He was so upset because they were planning his sister's wedding. He was thinking about whether they should postpone it or not because of their father's death.”
She added: “He was an amazing person. Everyone who knew him had something nice to say about him. It is so tragic.”
Bedfordshire Police are investigating the crash. Post-mortem examinations are to be held later today and inquests will be opened tomorrow.
Reader views (5)
Even though we did not know you personaly,it has truly
broken our hearts of this tragic loss.
May you all rest in peace.
- Dhesi Family, London, 05/05/2009 11:18
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I knew Lakhdip and his family since I was 3 years old. We grew up together - lived on the same street and went to the same school. He was such a good bloke - fun, kind, warm and intelligent. It is such a waste. I'll remember you. Rest in peace 'Lucky'.
- Edwin, Northampton, UK, 04/05/2009 11:51
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This is truly horrible. I knew Lakhdip fairly well at school - he was in most of my classes. He was bright and lively and left an instant impression on everyone who met him. Words can't express the shock and horror I felt when I found out last night what had happened to him and his family. It's a real tragedy.
- Anonymous, London, 22/04/2009 11:11
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This shows the real problem caused by people from abroad with poor driving competance skills allowed to drive on our roads.
Is the Polish driving test of high standard ?
- Joe, Swanley Kent, 22/04/2009 09:22
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This is tragic. An entire family wiped out within a few weeks. No one to prosecute, or to be tried. That is the biggest tragedy of all for those who loved and lost this family.
- Maya, London, 21/04/2009 15:55
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