The search for a Louisiana man, wanted for vehicular manslaughter, has now reached its sixth month. Manmeet Singh, 30, is accused of driving the wrong way on a highway in St. John the Baptist Parish last fall, resulting in the death of a college graduate.
According to Crime Stoppers of Greater New Orleans, Singh was arrested in late October on charges including vehicular homicide, reckless driving, and wrong-way driving. He is currently sought by the Louisiana State Police, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the U.S. Marshals Service New Orleans Task Force.
Last known to reside in Ponchatoula, Singh had been working as a rideshare driver in New Orleans. In September, he allegedly crashed head-on into 21-year-old Patricia Saidu on Interstate 10 while under the influence. Tragically, Saidu was trapped in her vehicle as it caught fire, and she succumbed to her injuries.
Although Singh sustained serious injuries and registered a blood alcohol level of 0.21%, he was discharged from the hospital before undergoing further evaluation by the police. Dr. Patrick Saidu, Patricia’s father, shared that she aspired to be an internist, emphasizing her family’s background in medicine, having been born to immigrant doctors from Sierra Leone.
After Singh left the hospital, ICE officers visited his home on October 1st to execute an arrest warrant, but they found him incapacitated due to his injuries. A few days ago, Louisiana State Police also went to his residence but determined he was not fit to be moved. Subsequently, he fled the state and has not been located since.
“It’s been six months since this accident occurred. Patricia was taken from us in a very tragic way,” her father remarked. Meanwhile, Singh’s mother, Martha Saidu, expressed her grief, pleading, “My daughter didn’t deserve to die like this.” Crimestoppers is currently offering a reward for information that could lead to Singh’s capture.
Singh is expected to appear in court next week, with Deputy U.S. Marshal Brian Fair highlighting that he left behind his family, which includes young children and a wife, in Ponchatoula. “He left a trail of destruction not only on his own family but certainly on the victim’s family as well,” Fair added.
