Victim impact statements begin in Broncos crash sentencing

If Logan Boulet had survived, he’d be on his way to earning an education degree at the University of Lethbridge and playing as a member of the school’s Prognhorns men’s hockey team.

He wanted to follow in his mother’s footsteps and be a teacher, like her.

But that dream was cut short by Logan’s death following the Humboldt Broncos bus crash on April 6.

Logan’s parents, Toby and Bernadine, shared their son’s story as part of victim impact statements delivered during the first day of a sentencing hearing for Jaskirat Singh Sidhu, who was behind the wheel of the semi truck that caused the crash.

Sidhu pleaded guilty earlier this month to 16 counts of dangerous driving causing death and 13 counts of dangerous driving causing bodily harm.

The Boulets read their statements to a packed, makeshift courtroom set up in Melfort’s Kerry Vickar conference centre.

“I am constantly surrounded by reminders of my funny, cheesy, kind son,” Bernadine said through tears.

Logan was taken to hospital in Saskatoon after the crash; he died 19 hours later.

Bernadine said some parents would say she and her husband were lucky to have gotten to spend those remaining 19 hours with their child. She said their luck ran out when Logan was declared brain dead.

Toby told court he still finds himself hoping to wake from what feels like a dream.

“But I know that’s never going to happen,” he said.

In reference to Sidhu, Toby said, “I do not believe that Mr. Sidhu got out of bed that morning intending to kill my son.”

Statement of facts details moments leading up to crash

Prior to the Boulets’ victim impact statements, court heard an agreed statement of facts detailing the moments leading up to the crash.

Court heard Sidhu was travelling between 86 and 96 km/h when he failed to stop at a stop sign at the intersection of Highway 35 and Highway 335.

The semi truck and trailer loaded with peat moss were fully in the intersection when the Broncos’ bus t-boned them at between 96 and 107 km/h.

Court heard bus driver Glen Doerksen had no chance to avoid the crash.

Doerksen applied the breaks and began skidding 24 metres south of the point of impact.

See the full agreed statement of facts that was presented to the court below:

Driver committed multiple log book violations prior to crash

The statement of facts presented in court also detailed numerous log book infractions committed by Sidhu in the days leading to the crash.

All told, he was found to have committed 51 federal violations and 19 provincial between March 26 and April 6.

Court was also shown diagrams detailing the immediate run-up to the crash.

There are also photos and diagrams showing the collision circumstances. First pair show views for either vehicle, you can see how close bus driver would have been before seeing the semi. Crown said there was nothing Doerksen could do to avoid the collision. #HumboldtBroncos pic.twitter.com/0adwUPrTql

— Chris Vandenbreekel (@Vandecision) January 28, 2019