She was just 17. Weeks away from meeting her baby boy. A future filled with tiny clothes, sleepless nights, and first smiles was almost within reach. Instead, it ended on a dark stretch of rural highway.
Ashlee Holmes, pregnant and described by loved ones as hopeful and excited about becoming a mother, was riding in the passenger seat of a luxury SUV driven by 33-year-old Tarsem Singh — identified by authorities as the father of her unborn child. According to investigators, a deputy clocked the vehicle traveling 79 miles per hour in a 55-mph zone. Patrol lights activated. Sirens blared.
What should have been a routine traffic stop escalated in seconds. Police say Singh refused to pull over and instead accelerated, triggering a high-speed pursuit that stretched for approximately five miles. Speeds reportedly reached 124 miles per hour as the SUV raced down narrow, dimly lit roads. Dashcam footage later released shows the patrol unit struggling to keep pace as the vehicle weaved through curves at dangerous speeds. Then came the turn. Authorities say Singh lost control while navigating a curve, sending the SUV into a devastating head-on collision with another vehicle. The impact caused the SUV to overturn. Ashlee was ejected during the crash and was pronounced dead at the scene. Her unborn son, Brandon, did not survive. The driver of the other vehicle sustained injuries but is expected to recover. Singh was airlifted from the crash site for medical treatment and later taken into custody. He now faces multiple felony charges. Bond has been set at $500,000. For Ashlee’s family, the grief is immeasurable. At her funeral, friends and relatives gathered not only to mourn a teenage daughter, sister, and friend — but also the life that never had the chance to begin. Those who knew her say she was preparing for motherhood with determination and love, attending appointments and making plans for her baby’s arrival. The case has ignited intense public anger and renewed debate about the consequences of fleeing from law enforcement. What began as a speeding violation became a deadly chain reaction in a matter of minutes. Investigators have not publicly stated why Singh chose to run, but prosecutors argue that the decision to flee set the tragedy in motion.
Cruiser camera footage captures the pursuit in stark detail — flashing lights reflecting off asphalt, the growing distance between caution and catastrophe. It’s a sobering reminder of how quickly lives can change. A simple stop. A choice to accelerate instead of brake. Two lives gone.
Now, a community is left asking a painful question: how many more tragedies will it take before drivers understand that no ticket is worth a life?