Truck driver’s plea may affect sentence outcome in Broncos crash

A day after the truck driver involved in the Humboldt Broncos bus crash pleaded guilty to 29 criminal charges, attention is now turning towards his sentencing.

Jaskirat Singh Sidhu accepted responsibility for causing the tragic collision on April 6 near Nipawin, pleading guilty to 16 counts of dangerous driving causing death and 13 counts of dangerous driving causing bodily harm.

The maximum prison sentence for dangerous driving causing death is 14 years, while dangerous driving causing injury carries a maximum of 10 years behind bars.

However, experienced Regina-based lawyer Aaron Fox told John Gormley Wednesday the punishment is typically much lower.

“The very rough, general range sort of starts around two years,” Fox said.

“It can go down a little bit from that, but more often we go up based on past record, alcohol involved or the serious nature of the driving.”

There has been no indication from RCMP or Crown prosecutors that alcohol was involved in the crash, or that Sidhu had any prior driving offences.

Fox said there can also be several mitigating factors involved which could convince Judge Inez Cardinal to keep Sidhu’s sentence on the lower range.

“The court’s always looking to see, do they accept responsibility early in the proceedings? And by doing so have avoided the trauma of having to run a trial,” he said.

Mark Brayford, Sidhu’s lawyer, indicated outside the courthouse Tuesday that his client didn’t want a plea bargain and simply wished to prevent more anguish for families affected by the crash.

Sidhu was driving a double-trailer semi truck westbound on Highway 335 on April 6, when his truck collided with the Broncos bus travelling northbound on Highway 35. There was a large, flashing stop sign on Highway 335.

The crash killed 16 members of the Broncos team including the bus driver, athletic therapist, coaches, play-by-play announcer and statistician and injured 13 others.

Fox, who is not involved in Sidhu’s case, noted Judge Cardinal will also have to consider the lack of legal precedence for a tragedy of such large magnitude.

“(There were) unbelievably disastrous and tragic consequences,” he said.

“That’s a factor, and where do you fit that in the equation, bearing in mind all the other facts and circumstances.”

No agreed statement of facts detailing what happened on April 6 has been submitted to the court. One is expected to be prepared and delivered at the start of sentencing.

The sentencing hearing is set to begin Jan. 28 in Melfort, and five days have been set aside to accommodate the potentially large number of victim impact statements.

The impact statements could come from members of each of the 29 families involved, as well as billet hosts from Humboldt and members of the Broncos organization.

Parents divided over punishment

Family members of those who were on the Broncos bus are divided on what Sidhu’s guilty plea should mean for his sentence.

Scott Thomas, who lost his son Evan in the crash, spoke to reporters moments after the guilty plea in court and was asked what a just punishment would be.

“If he spends a day, if he spends 10 years, time is irrelevant,” Thomas said.

“He was guilty, he acknowledged that. That’s all I needed to hear.”

Lyle Brons, whose daughter Dayna Brons died from her injuries days after the collision shared a similar sentiment.

In a text to 650 CKOM, he said the guilty plea came as a relief.

“I have always found it hard to hate (Sidhu) and I think this will make possible to forgive him,” Brons wrote.

“It doesn’t matter what his punishment is going to be, I don’t believe that he will ever be a danger again and it won’t change other people’s stupidity.”

However, other parents don’t think the guilty plea should reduce the punishment.

“I’m glad he won’t be putting everyone through a lengthy, exhaustive and heartbreaking trial,” Michelle Straschnitzki, whose son Ryan was paralyzed in the crash, told The Canadian Press.

“However, I also hope that by doing so, he doesn’t get an absurdly reduced sentence.”

-With files from The Canadian Press.