Thursday, November 14, 2024–12:15 p.m.
-Adam Carey, Rome News-Tribune-
This story is possible because of a news-sharing agreement with the Rome News-Tribune. More information can be found at northwestgeorgianews.com
A truck driver who killed a Calhoun mother when he was driving the wrong way on Ga. 53 on May 2 pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 12 years in prison.
Parvinder Singh, 47, pleaded guilty Tuesday to a first-degree homicide by vehicle charge. He was also sentenced to an additional 18 years on probation by Floyd County Superior Court Judge William “Billy” Sparks.
Letha Lamb, who was killed in the wreck, was driving Patience Lamb to visit her boyfriend the night of the wreck.
“Other drivers called 911, and some flashed their brights at the truck when they saw it heading north in the south-bound lane without lights,” Floyd County Assistant District Attorney Elisabeth Giuliani said. “Moments later, they reported a wreck, and emergency services headed out.”
The prosecutor told the court that Singh stated he had stopped at a convenience store on Ga. 53 where a friend worked while driving cargo from Atlanta to Chattanooga.
“He denied drinking to police,” Giuliani said, “but was later found to have a blood-alcohol level almost double the legal limit.”
Letha Lamb’s husband, Joshua Lamb, and two of their daughters, including Patience, spoke during the sentencing hearing.
“I had to tell my wife’s mother, who lives with us, that her daughter was dead,” Joshua Lamb said. “And then call our other daughter and say that your mother is dead. It was the hardest thing I ever had to do in my life.”
Singh took full responsibility for the wreck and asked for leniency during the hearing. He offered to help the victim’s family as much as he could.
Singh stated that he has a 14-year-old daughter and 17-year-old son in India. His hope was to bring them to the United States.
Judge Sparks acknowledged Singh’s remorse and said pleading guilty would spare the family the trauma of a trial.
“I’ll take the defendant’s remorse at face value because I think we should consider it,” Sparks said. “But he was driving a commercial vehicle towing an untold amount of weight with an egregious amount of alcohol in his system on the wrong side of the road with his lights off. It might as well have been a firearm.”
After sentencing, Singh continued to express remorse and asked Judge Sparks for leniency saying he hasn’t seen his family in five years.
“I understand that you will not see your family for a period of time,” Sparks said. “But these children will never see their mom again. I feel the sentence was fair and it is firm.”