Death from car surfing

A Brampton teen is dead and another is facing charges after a risky stunt went wrong. 19-year old Royal Virk died after car surfing. It’s a dangerous activity that’s been making headlines all too often. Elise Copps has the details.

I was in Brampton all day in the parking lot where Royal Virk received his fatal injuries. He was riding on the back of a moving car when he fell off and hit his head. Sadly, this case of car surfing is far from the first. Earlier this month, a Guelph teen fractured his skull trying to car surf. Thursday in Brampton, Virk’s friends were coming to terms with his death.

Habib Najmi, was a friend: “Very down to earth guy. Makes friends with anybody.”

Jason Inderlalo was also a friend: “He was a good kid. Nothing bad about him. Very mellow, kind guy.”

That’s how friends are remembering Royal Virk. The 19-year old died car surfing, similar to the people in these YouTube videos. It’s a growing trend where daredevils ride on the back or top of a car, while it’s moving.

Constable Lilly Fitzpatrick, Peel Regional Police: “The 16-year old driver has been charged with criminal negligence causing bodily harm and dangerous driving causing bodily harm.”

Virk was surfing on the back of a silver Honda Civic in a lot beside Batsman Park in Brampton.

This is the parking lot where Virk was injured. Witnesses told police he made several attempts at car surfing before falling and hitting his head.

On Tuesday, Virk was taken to hospital with life threatening injuries. He died Wednesday afternoon.

Constable Fitzpatrick: “It’s an extremely dangerous activity. And not only is it dangerous. It’s illegal.”

This isn’t the first car surfing incident for Peel police. Last year, 18-year old George to suffered permanent brain damage.

The driver of the car served 75 days in jail.

Friends of Virk hope his death prevents other young people from risking their lives car surfing.

Habib: “Just the other day, I was with him and we were chilling here in this parking lot. And now he’s gone. It upsetting that he died over something that shouldn’t be happening.”

The 16-year old who’s been charged was a friend of Virk’s. Now that Virk has died, police expect to upgrade his charges to dangerous driving causing death and criminal negligence causing death.