Gurb Aujla was driving home from his 10-year-old son's hockey practice when his life took a permanent and devastating turn.
On Jan. 27, the 53-year-old was driving a Saturn Vue west on Fraser Highway near 145 Street when a Hyundai Santa Fe SUV slammed into the vehicle's rear end – sending Aujla and his son into the side of a Toyota Tacoma pick-up truck.
The boy was treated for minor injuries, but Aujla suffered a severed spinal cord and is now paralyzed from the chest down.
Aujla's car was the last of three vehicles the Hyundai Santa Fe slammed into before careening into a ditch.
The driver was arrested but has not yet been charged.
Charges being considered are three counts of dangerous operation of a vehicle causing bodily harm.
Police are still trying to determine whether drugs or alcohol played a role in the accident.
The Aujla family is rocked by the accident.
Many members of the Surrey Minor Hockey community have asked family and friends what they could do and were told to be available for emotional support.
Aujla is father to four children and the sole breadwinner for the family.
Friends elected to set up a trust fund for the Aujlas to help them with immediate expenses and hopefully ease some of the financial stress.
Friends have also created an email account to which donations can be made to help support the family. All money is going directly to the Aujlas.
One of the Surrey Minor Hockey members, Sam Plett, and her accounting firm Plett and Associates, will audit the account and disburse funds as needed.
Donations can be mailed to and cheques made out to:
Aujla Trust Fund, 12496 63A Ave. Surrey, B.C. V3X 2C7.
Additionally, funds can be sent to: aujlasfund@gmail.com. Any questions can also be directed to this email address.
Friends hope to have a Facebook account set up shortly.