{"id":25549,"date":"2019-01-31T15:47:36","date_gmt":"2019-01-31T20:47:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mileniostadium.com\/?p=25549"},"modified":"2019-01-31T15:47:36","modified_gmt":"2019-01-31T20:47:36","slug":"i-have-taken-the-most-valuable-things-of-your-life-driver-in-humboldt-broncos-bus-crash-tells-hearing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mileniostadium.com\/canada\/i-have-taken-the-most-valuable-things-of-your-life-driver-in-humboldt-broncos-bus-crash-tells-hearing\/","title":{"rendered":"‘I have taken the most valuable things of your life’: Driver in Humboldt Broncos bus crash tells hearing"},"content":{"rendered":"
The truck driver who pleaded guilty in the Humboldt Broncos bus crash told families and friends of the victims that he was sorry during the final day of a sentencing hearing in a Melfort, Sask., courtroom.<\/p>\n
Sixteen people were killed and 13 injured in April 2018 when the Humboldt Broncos team bus collided with a semi-trailer driven by Jaskirat\u00a0Singh\u00a0Sidhu, 30, who was driving for a Calgary-based trucking company.<\/p>\n
“I take full responsibility for what has happened. It happened because of my lack of experience,” Sidhu\u00a0told the court as the victims’ families and friends cried, looked down or stared at him.<\/p>\n
“I can’t imagine what you are going through, what you’ve been through,” he said. “I have taken the most valuable things of your life.<\/p>\n
“I will be so so so so so sorry from this day.”<\/p>\n
Sidhu\u00a0pleaded guilty to multiple counts of dangerous driving causing death and dangerous driving causing bodily injury earlier this month.\u00a0Judge\u00a0Inez\u00a0Cardinal has reserved her sentencing decision until March 22 at 10 a.m.<\/p>\n
The Crown attorney in the case is asking for a 10-year prison sentence for Sidhu, to be followed by a\u00a010-year driving ban. The prosecutor wants a\u00a010-year sentence for each count to be served concurrently.<\/p>\n
According to an agreed statement of facts,\u00a0Sidhu\u00a0was solely responsible for the crash.<\/p>\n
A forensic collision report found he\u00a0didn’t brake at the intersection of Highway 335 and 35 before the crash.<\/p>\n
The report said\u00a0Sidhu’s\u00a0view of the intersection was not impeded by any environmental factors like trees near the road or sun in his eyes.<\/p>\n
Prosecutor Thomas Healey said Sidhu had more than enough time to slow down and stop, stating it would have taken the semi more than 100 metres to stop, but the first warning of the intersection was 400 metres away. Healey said Sidhu entered the intersection “like a rocket.”<\/p>\n
“This was not just an accident,” he said. “This was a crime.”<\/p>\n
He said it wasn’t a case of momentary distraction, noting there were four signs in advance of the intersection, as well as a large stop sign with a flashing light. A car was also stopped directly across from him on the highway,\u00a0waiting for the Broncos bus to pass.<\/p>\n
“How do you miss all those signs?” asked Healey.\u00a0“How is that possible?”<\/p>\n
The Crown submitted 23 court cases for reference,\u00a0citing\u00a0one judgment which said a high number of deaths should result in a harsher sentence, and that the amount of harm caused should be relevant.<\/p>\n
“All he had to do was stop. Just stop,” he said.\u00a0“And we wouldn’t be here today.”<\/p>\n
Healey\u00a0said Sidhu’s\u00a0guilty plea should be a mitigating factor, and believes he is remorseful.<\/p>\n
The truck driver also has a clean driving record and no prior criminal record.<\/p>\n
More than 90 victim impact statements were presented to the court by friends and families of victims during the sentencing hearing, which began on Monday.<\/p>\n
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