The families of those killed in the 2018 Humboldt Broncos bus crash share their thoughts the day after the truck driver responsible for the crash was granted probation.
Jaskirat Singh Sidhu was granted parole for six months by the Parole Board of Canada on Wednesday. Sidhu will get parole after those six months if he complies with all conditions, including not contacting the victims’ families.
Read more: Truck driver in fatal Humboldt Broncos crash granted 6-month probation
Sidhu was sentenced to eight years after pleading guilty to dangerous driving causing death and bodily harm in the collision on April 6, 2018, which killed 16 people and injured 13 others.
Russell Herold, father of 16-year-old Adam Herold, who died in the crash, was upset by the parole board’s decision.
Story continues below ad
“I would never trust him to drive a car again to be honest with you,” Herold told Global News.
“He’s still technically in jail, but I guess my hope is the day he gets parole, the immigration board is waiting to put him on a plane and he’s gone, forever out of our sight because (we can) begin to forget about him. .”
Sidhu is awaiting a decision from the Immigration Board of Canada on whether or not he will be deported. Sidhu was a permanent resident at the time of the accident.
In Canada, a criminal conviction involving a sentence of more than six months makes a permanent resident ineligible to remain in the country.
In June, Sidhu’s immigration lawyer, Michael Greene, said he hoped to have the opportunity to argue against his client’s possible deportation in the Federal Court of Canada.
Read more: ‘Permanent exile’: Broncos crash truck driver’s lawyer hopes to argue for deportation
“He’ll keep spinning if he stays in Canada. If he’s deported, he’ll be anonymous, you’ll never find him there again and that’ll be the end of the story with him. He’s gone. And maybe it’ll be the end of the story for the rest of us Herold said.
Trending stories
-
Truck driver in fatal Humboldt Broncos crash granted probation for 6 months
-
Airline workers face insults, physical threats amid travel delays: ‘Worst I’ve ever seen’
Story continues below ad
The parole board panel grilled Sidhu for three hours during Wednesday’s hearing, asking him about inconsistencies in some of his initial statements, including telling his boss he was distracted by a flapping tarp and then explaining to the RCMP that the sun was in his eyes.
Other families are also reacting to the parole board’s decision.
Scott Thomas, Evan Thomas’ father, said his family was aware of the decision.
“We’ve said since the day Mr. Sidhu pleaded guilty in Melfort that we didn’t care if his sentence was one day, 10 years or the rest of his life. We still feel that way,” Thomas said.
“Our family has moved forward in our efforts to remember and celebrate the life and legacy of our son and brother Evan. The situation surrounding the punishment and release of Mr. Sidhu is no longer an issue that worries our family.”
“We would like to extend our love to the Broncos family and wish them the best in their grief journey.”
2:07 Saskatchewan, Canada remembers lives lost on 4th anniversary of tragedy Saskatchewan, Canada remembers lives lost on 4th anniversary of tragedy – April 6, 2022
Toby Boulet, father of Logan Boulet, said his family did not want Sidhu to be granted the day or full parole and is disappointed with the sentence.
Story continues below ad
“We have chosen to focus our energy on passionately helping organ transplant groups in Canada and the United States move the needle on increasing organ and tissue donors, research and… just helping others as we can,” Boulet said.
“We have no feelings for Mr. Sidhu and what he wants and thinks he deserves. We want our Logan back, but we can’t have it. We will continue to focus our energy on things we can control and not things we can’t.” .
Global News also reached out to other families who did not respond or declined to comment.
Global News reached out to Sidhu’s lawyer who did not respond before publication.
— with archives from The Canadian Press
© 2022 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.