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Losing Their Son: Parents Struggle with Aftermath of Traffic Fatality
June 30, 2009
By Dan Ferguson
Away from a hockey rink,
Sanjeeve Sharma was a
quiet, almost shy sort of
teen.
The well-muscled 6'1"
15-year-old wasn't timid,
but he would take his time
getting to know people,
and he wouldn't smile
without a good reason.
It was a different story
when he took to the ice.
Heaven help the opposing
player who roughed up a
Sharma teammate.
He would take them down
hard, even if he had to wait
several games to do it.
The left winger was known
for his trash talking skills,
needling rival players into losing their cool.
Sharma was preparing to play rep hockey and he had dreams about playing professionally.
If that hadn't worked out, he probably would have gone into law enforcement.
He was a loyal Canucks fan who would continue to cheer for his team even when they were at
the bottom of a losing streak.
He was also a fan of the rock group KISS.
It was something he shared with his dad.
They went to concerts together and when Sanjeeve was decorating his bedroom, he convinced
his parent to let him use some of his father's mint condition collectible KISS posters.
Sanjeeve returned the favor by educating his dad about hip-hop music.
The old man (as dad referred to himself) even came to like some of the newer stuff and son and
father would crank the stereo in the truck almost all the way up. But not when mom Sara was
riding with them.
Sanjeeve had a habit of leaving his soft drinks
lying on the pale grey carpet next to his bed,
where he would sometimes accidentally knock
them over.
A candlelight vigil was held Tuesday night for
Sanjeeve Sharma at Newton Elementary
school.
Tired of the dark stains, dad deployed a KISS
rug, reasoning his son would never risk spilling
soda on the faces of his favorite rock group.
It worked.
About the only part of Sanjeeve's bedroom
that wasn't devoted to either KISS or hockey
(including his many medals) was the gigantic
stuffed puppy that he curled up with in his bed every night.
It was a surprise Valentine's day gift from a girlfriend.
At an age when other teens are dating as many different people as they can, he was loyal to one
girl.
When his curious mother Sara asked why, he simply said that girls don't like it when guys do
that.
On Monday, Sanjeeve ate at home before he went to a local gym with some friends.
It was his favorite meal - his mother's lasagna.
He was supposed to come home at 7:00 p.m.
When his mother phoned him to pick him up from the gym, he said, "no mommy, I have a ride."
When her son was late getting home, Sara was irritated at first.
Then she began to worry.
And then the call came, to go to the hospital.
Her son was dead.
Sanjeeve was one of three people in a white
1999 Chevrolet Malibu that slammed into a
BMW Sport Utility Vehicle in a Newton business
district.
A 16-year-old boy from Surrey was at the
wheel with Sanjeeve and another passenger,
an 18-year-old also from Surrey.
The collision occurred around 9 p.m. on 128
Street near 82 Avenue just south of the train
tracks that run diagonally through the
intersection.
Both vehicles were heading south down 128 Street at the time.
The teenage driver of the Malibu had reportedly been driving erratically before he lost control, hit
the BMW, then slammed into a light standard.
Sanjeeve was critically injured.
His parents were told they can take some comfort in knowing that their eldest son died almost
instantly and didn't suffer.
The 16-year-old driver and 18-year-old passenger in the Malibu escaped with what are described
as minor injuries.
So did the three occupants of the SUV.
Police said initial indications are that alcohol and speed were factors.
Sanjeeve's parents have been told that the 16-year-old did have a learner's license and may
have been driving a car that was purchased for him by his parents.
It appears the teen driver was in defiance of provincial "L" or learner licence conditions.
Under B.C. law, a 16-year-old driver who passes a driving test and obtains an "L" permit is only
allowed to drive with an adult supervisor sitting beside them who is at least 25 years old and has
a valid driver's licence.
That is one of several restrictions imposed on beginner drivers by the provincial graduated
licensing program.
Under the program, a 16-year-old new driver must display an "L" sticker on their car, cannot
drink even the slightest amount of alcohol, can only carry two passengers, one of them an adult
supervisor, and cannot drive between midnight and 5 a.m.
Surrey RCMP Traffic Services is continuing their investigation and is asking that anyone who
witnessed the crash or events that preceded it to contact Const. Glen Croutch at 604-599-0502.
A funeral service for Sanjeeve has been scheduled for Friday.
dferguson@surreyleader.com
© Copyright 2009 Surrey North Delta Leader
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