On April 6, 2018, sixteen people were killed and thirteen injured when a northbound coach bus struck a westbound semi-trailer truck near Armley, Saskatchewan, Canada. The driver of the semi-trailer had failed to yield at a flashing stop sign at the intersection of Highways 35 and 335. The semi was travelling at a speed of approximately 100 km/h (60 mph). Most of the dead and injured were players from the Humboldt Broncos, a junior ice hockey team that plays in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL).
One of the seriously injured Humboldt Broncos player, Derek Patter is suing the truck driver and the company. Patter received support from his parents as well as Alberta government in filing the lawsuit at Regina Court of Queen’s Bench. A compensation of $250,000 to subside Patter’s health issues occurred in the crash is demanded.
The collision resulted in innumerable systemic injuries including a subdural hematoma, facial and mandible fractures , lost sensation in various body parts, skin lacerations and abrasions and trauma causing severe physiological and psychological pain.
Reportedly, the claim involves the names of Jaskirat Sidhu, Calgary truck driver, and Adesh Deol, Alberta based truck owner. Negligence on part of Sidhu was reported due to his inattentive, careless and unsafe driving skills. While on part of trucking company, the claim found that the semi was not maintained properly with inadequate braking system as well as failure of the company to educate and train drivers before they start. The previous driving history of Sidhu involved 16 counts of dangerous driving causing death and 13 counts of dangerous driving causing body harms in 2019. A court order of 8 years sentence has been imposed on him.
To avoid further tragedies like these, the Canadian Trucking Alliance came out to promote CTA’s 10-point action plan involving a Truck Safety Working group on collaboration of government and industry to improve truck safety compliance. The compliance set standard guidelines for trucking companies to be followed before releasing their truck. Minister Garneau and the Council of Ministers for Tranportaion and Highway safety today delivered a promise to enhance the highway safety by completing a national pre-licence training standard for tractor-trailor drivers by first quarter 2020.
