Beloved Surrey Math Teacher Suminder Singh Identified As Fatal Crash Victim

A high school teacher who was killed in a car crash on 176 Street and 32 Avenue in Surrey on Friday is being identified by family, friends and students as Surrey math teacher Suminder Singh.

Suminder Singh, 55, died Friday when the SUV he was driving on Highway 15 (176th Street) in Surrey crashed into a tractor-trailer. The highway was closed for hours.

Singh was a popular teacher at Tamanawis Secondary School, where he was the head of the math department. He was also a Sikh minister, tabla player and cricket coach.

As news of his death spread throughout his community, dozens of people expressed praise for him and grief for the man one community group called a "local hero."

Grade 12 students gathered at Tamanawis Secondary Sunday to share their thoughts on Singh, who was more than a teacher to many students.

A vigil in Singh’s memory has been planned for next Saturday at Tamanawis Secondary. Hundreds of people are expected to attend.

Singh's family has declined to speak, but shared news of his death "with a heavy heart" on Facebook.

The family invited those wanting to pay their respects to join them to sing and chant together each evening at their New Westminster home from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

“Suminder was a pillar in this community,” explained longtime friend Baltej Singh Dhillon. ”He is a father a teacher, a minister. He walked in our community with grace and nobility. He gave of his time freely. He was revered by his students. This is a small way we can honour all he has gifted us with,” Dhillon explained. “The vigil will let us apply balm to our grieving hearts, and to come together as a community.”

Many who knew him have posted on the Facebook event for the vigil, some calling Singh their "favourite high school teacher."