The Indian truckers involved in a deadly crash that killed 16 people and injured 13 has been granted bail in Alberta. The Parole Board of Canada has granted Jaskirat Singh Sidhu who caused the deadly Humboldt Broncos bus crash day parole for six months. Following an emotional, seven-hour hearing at Bowden Institution on Wednesday, the two-member board panel said Sidhu will get full parole after those six months if he follows all conditions, including no contact with the families of the victims.
BOWDEN— The Indian truckers involved in a deadly crash that killed 16 people and injured 13 has been granted bail in Alberta.
The Parole Board of Canada has granted Jaskirat Singh Sidhu who caused the deadly Humboldt Broncos bus crash day parole for six months.
Following an emotional, seven-hour hearing at Bowden Institution on Wednesday, the two-member board panel said Sidhu will get full parole after those six months if he follows all conditions, including no contact with the families of the victims, reported National Post.
Sidhu was sentenced to eight years after he pleaded guilty to dangerous driving charges for the 2018 crash that killed 16 and injured 13.
Sidhu went through a stop sign at a rural Saskatchewan intersection and drove into the path of the junior hockey team’s bus as it was on its way to a playoff game.
Family members of four of the Humboldt victims addressed the board, asking that they deny parole for Sidhu.
“Where is the faith where we hold people accountable to our laws? I’ve lost all faith in justice in our country to ensure we are safe on the roads,” said Shauna Nordstrom, whose son Logan Hunter died in the crash.
She had little sympathy for Sidhu and his wife, who is also from India.
The panel grilled Sidhu for three hours Wednesday afternoon asking about inconsistencies in some of his initial statements, including telling his boss he was distracted by a flapping tarp and then explaining to RCMP that he had the sun in his eyes.
Sidhu apologized to the families after their victim impact statements.
“I want the parole board to know that what I did was very horrible, destroyed so many families’ lives. I deeply hurt every one of them. I destroyed their dreams, destroyed their future and now I have given them unbearable pain,” Sidhu said.
“I’m sorry for the pain that I have caused. I’m sorry for destroying their lives. I’m sorry for not being careful that day.”
He said he never wanted to hurt anyone or have it happen to anyone.
The Canada Border Services Agency recommended in March that Sidhu be handed over to the Immigration and Refugee Board to decide if he should be deported back to India.
His lawyer is seeking to argue against deportation in Federal Court.
Courtesy National Post
