A 25-year-old man from Vaughan, Ontario, has been handed a significant prison sentence for his role in a fatal hit-and-run that claimed the life of a teenager last year.
Court Imposes Prison Term and Lengthy Driving Prohibition
On Monday, December 16, 2025, Justice Michelle Fuerst sentenced Harnoor Chauhan to five years in a federal penitentiary. In addition to the prison term, the court issued a 15-year driving prohibition, barring Chauhan from operating a vehicle for a decade and a half following his release.
Chauhan had previously pleaded guilty in September to three charges: dangerous driving causing death, failing to stop after an accident causing death, and public mischief. The sentencing brings a measure of closure to a tragic case that began on a spring evening in 2024.
Details of the Fatal Collision
The incident occurred on May 21, 2024, at approximately 10:45 p.m. in Vaughan. According to court proceedings, a 16-year-old boy, David Shirinian, was riding a mini-bike in the area of Martin Grove Road and Jackman Crescent.
Shirinian was struck by a white Mercedes-Benz. The driver of the vehicle did not remain at the scene and fled. Despite emergency response, the teenage victim was pronounced dead at the location of the collision.
Data retrieved from the Mercedes' airbag control module presented a shocking picture of the moments before impact. The information showed the vehicle was travelling at 128 km/h at the point of collision. The posted speed limit on that section of Martin Grove Road is 50 km/h. An agreed statement of facts indicated the car had sped up as it approached the intersection.
False Report and Police Investigation
In a twist that compounded the crime, police were called to a nearby location on Forest Drive and Dunstan Crescent shortly after the hit-and-run. At that scene, Harnoor Chauhan reported that his Mercedes-Benz had been carjacked.
York Regional Police investigators, however, quickly determined the carjacking story was fabricated. Through a thorough investigation, they identified Chauhan not as a victim, but as the driver involved in the fatal collision that had just occurred. The charge of public mischief stemmed from this false report to authorities.
The court heard that the force of the impact was severe, throwing young David Shirinian approximately 84 metres from the point where the Mercedes struck his mini-bike.
Sentencing and Aftermath
The sentence hearing took place in November 2025, culminating in this week's final ruling by Justice Fuerst. The five-year prison term reflects the gravity of the offences, which include not only the act of dangerous driving that led to a death but also the decision to flee and the subsequent attempt to mislead police.
The 15-year driving ban is a substantial additional penalty, intended to protect the public and underscore the consequences of such irresponsible behaviour behind the wheel. This case serves as a sombre reminder of the devastating and lasting impact of dangerous driving and hit-and-run incidents on Ontario roads.
