Wellington: A 36-year-old Indian-origin man lost his life in a devastating two-vehicle collision while working an evening Uber shift in New Zealand’s Papamoa region, leaving his young wife and 18-month-old daughter behind.
Ramandeep Dhillon, originally from Punjab, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash on Te Puke Highway between Bell Road and Poplar Lane. Two occupants from the other vehicle sustained injuries, according to authorities. The incident occurred around 7:15 pm on Wednesday last week.
Dhillon had moved to New Zealand in 2015 on a student visa. He returned to India in 2024 to marry Veerpal Kaur, after which the couple settled together in Papamoa. Both initially worked on local kiwifruit orchards, as reported by the *New Zealand Herald*.
Following the birth of their daughter Kudrat, Dhillon took up driving for Uber to gain more flexible hours that would allow him to help care for the child. His wife noted that he frequently travelled the same road where the fatal accident took place.
On the day of the tragedy, Dhillon had spent the morning with his young daughter before heading out for his shift. He assured his wife that he would be back in time for dinner. When he stopped responding to calls, concern quickly turned to alarm. Later that night, police arrived at the family home to deliver the heartbreaking news.
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“I cried, I cried, I cried. I felt that my life is spoilt now,” Kaur told the *New Zealand Herald*. She described how the couple first met through family connections at a party and gradually became close before he proposed. “I thought that he was a very good, thinking person, and he was innocent and loyal… He did everything for me, and I can’t forget his love,” she added.
Kaur recalled Dhillon’s excitement upon learning he would become a father. Their daughter has been asking for him since the accident, and the grieving mother says the child shares her father’s smile.
Dhillon’s funeral took place on Wednesday, drawing a significant gathering with mourners travelling from across New Zealand to pay their respects. A Givealittle fundraising page created for the family has raised more than $33,000 to support funeral expenses, rent, and daily living costs.
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