An Indian-origin father of one has died following a tragic two-vehicle crash while working a late evening Uber shift in New Zealand, leaving his family devastated.
Ramandeep Dhillon, 36, from Pāpāmoa, was killed when his vehicle was involved in a collision on Te Puke Highway between Bell Road and Poplar Lane at around 7.15 pm.
Police said one person died at the scene, while two occupants of the other vehicle were injured. The circumstances surrounding the crash remain under investigation and have been referred to the Coroner.
Dhillon had left home earlier that evening after spending time with his wife, Veerpal Kaur, and their 18-month-old daughter, Kudrat. Before leaving, he told them he would return later for dinner.
When he stopped answering calls, concern began to grow before police arrived later that night to inform Kaur of his death.
“I cried, I cried, I cried. I felt that my life is spoiled now,” Kaur told the New Zealand Herald.
Dhillon was born in Punjab, India, and moved to New Zealand in 2015 on a student visa. He later returned to India in 2024 to marry Kaur after the two were introduced through family connections.
After marriage, the couple settled in Pāpāmoa in the Bay of Plenty region, where they initially worked in kiwifruit orchards. Dhillon later began driving for Uber to support the family and spend more time at home after the birth of their daughter.
Kaur said the job gave him the flexibility to stay close to his child and described how excited he was about becoming a father.
“He was so excited when he found out he was going to be a dad,” she said.
The couple named their daughter Kudrat, meaning “nature”. Since his death, the toddler has continued asking where her father is.
Friends and family described Dhillon as a devoted husband and father who always prioritised spending time with his daughter, even during work breaks.
“If he missed his daughter, he would come home, spend time with her, then go back to work,” a close friend told the New Zealand Herald.
His best friend of 12 years, Gurlabh Singh, remembered him as a positive and caring person who supported those around him, including helping him when he first arrived in New Zealand.
A Givealittle fundraising page set up for the family has raised tens of thousands of dollars to help cover funeral expenses, rent and living costs as Kaur and their daughter cope with life without him.
