Van passenger in 401 wrong-way crash was barred from Vaughan LCBO

A Mississauga man suspected of being the passenger in a cargo van involved in a deadly wrong-way crash on Highway 401 last month had been barred from a Vaughan LCBO outlet after he allegedly stole up to $5,000 in merchandise, court records show.

The man was identified to CBC News as Manpreet Gill, 38, by lawyer John Christie, whose firm previously represented Gill, and by Farshad Malamiri, a volunteer at the tent encampment where Gill spent time. 

The April 29 crash, which involved six vehicles, killed three-month old Aditya Vivaan and his grandparents, Manivannan Srinivasapillai and Mahalakshmi Ananthakrishnan, who had been visiting from Chennai, India. 

The driver of the cargo van, which was being pursued by Durham police, also died. Ontario's Special Investigations Unit has previously said the cargo van passenger was seriously injured and taken to hospital.

Newmarket court records show Gill was charged on Feb. 17 with stealing merchandise worth up to $5,000 from an LCBO outlet in Vaughan. He was also charged with possession of stolen property and breach of probation.

A release order signed the same day as he was charged banned Gill from attending the LCBO outlet in Vaughan.

No one answered on Wednesday when a reporter called the phone number listed in court records as belonging to the Brampton man who acted as Gill's surety in February.

Christie, whose firm previously represented Gill, told CBC News on Tuesday he had no update to share on Gill's condition.

Amar Mahil, the lawyer from Christie's firm who previously represented Gill, said on Wednesday he wasn't aware of any charges laid against Gill in connection with the wrong way crash or the events that led up to the collision.

CBC News previously reported the driver of the cargo van, Gagandeep Singh, was also facing criminal charges and under a court order not to be behind the wheel.

The SIU has said the pursuit began after an LCBO robbery in Clarington.

The van was being pursued by at least 20 police vehicles, including seven going the opposition direction to traffic on the highway, according to video reviewed by CBC News.