The Broncos were on their way to a playoff game when the crash occurred, killing 16 people and injuring 13 others REGINA — The driver of a transport truck that collided with a bus carrying the Humboldt Broncos junior hockey team is facing criminal charges. RCMP say Jaskirat Singh Sidhu, who is 29, was arrested this morning at his Calgary home and is in police custody. He faces 16 counts of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing death and 13 counts of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing bodily injury. He is to appear in provincial court in Saskatchewan next week. RCMP say they will not release any details of the investigation or what they believe happened. The only thing the Mounties have said to this point is that the truck was in the intersection when the collision occurred. The Broncos were on their way to a playoff game when the truck and the bus crashed at a rural Saskatchewan intersection on April 6. Sixteen people, including 10 players, died as a result of the crash, and 13 players were injured. The truck driver was not hurt. Sukhmander Singh, owner of the Calgary-based trucking company, said in April that the driver was going to the doctor and receiving counselling. Singh said he was basically out of business after Alberta Transportation ordered Adesh Deol Trucking Ltd. to keep its only other truck off the road. RCMP said April 19 that they had recovered driver log books along with engine control modules which had been sent to California for further analysis. MORE ABOUT HUMBOLDT BRONCOS:<doc-sep>Send this page to someone via email Charges have been laid exactly three months after the deadly Humboldt Broncos bus crash that killed 16 people and injured 13 others. The driver of the semi, Jaskirat Sidhu, is facing 16 charges of dangerous driving of a motor vehicle causing death. WATCH: Saskatchewan RCMP have charged the driver of a semi involved in the fatal Humboldt Broncos bus crash with dangerous driving causing death. Sarah Komadina reports. 2:07 Semi driver charged in Humboldt Broncos bus crash Semi driver charged in Humboldt Broncos bus crash – Jul 6, 2018 The 29-year-old Calgary man is also facing 13 counts of dangerous driving of a motor vehicle causing bodily harm. Story continues below advertisement WATCH: RCMP announce the driver of the tractor-trailer which impacted the bus carrying the Humboldt Broncos junior hockey team has been arrested. 1:13 RCMP announce driver of tractor trailer arrested in connection with Humboldt Broncos crash RCMP announce driver of tractor trailer arrested in connection with Humboldt Broncos crash – Jul 6, 2018 Supt. Derek Williams, the officer in charge of the Saskatchewan RCMP major crime unit, said these are serious criminal charges. ”In order to lay these charges, we required evidence a motor vehicle was being operated in a manner that is dangerous to the public,” Williams said. WATCH BELOW: RCMP outline 29 charges against driver of tractor-trailer involved in Humboldt Broncos crash 2:22 RCMP outline 29 charges against driver of tractor-trailer involved in Humboldt Broncos crash RCMP outline 29 charges against driver of tractor-trailer involved in Humboldt Broncos crash – Jul 6, 2018 Dangerous driving causing death carries a jail term of up to 14 years. Dangerous driving causing bodily harm is upwards of 10 years in jail. Story continues below advertisement Sidhu was arrested Friday morning at his Calgary home and remains in RCMP custody. He is scheduled to appear in Saskatchewan provincial court next week. READ MORE: Trucking business opens at same Calgary address as company involved in Humboldt crash As of yet, no charges have been laid against the trucking company, but the Canadian Trucking Alliance says going forward it would like to know the results of the investigation into Adesh Deol Trucking Ltd., the Calgary-based trucking company that employed Sidhu. The group says once the details of the investigation have been released, they will work with authorities to help make the roads safer if they can. WATCH: Significant changes to be implemented on truck drivers in Alberta 1:43 Significant changes to be implemented on truck drivers in Alberta Significant changes to be implemented on truck drivers in Alberta – Jul 6, 2018 “The alliance will examine opportunities with the provinces and the federal government to make improvements to the commercial vehicle safety compliance system,” a release from the CTA reads. Story continues below advertisement Global News reached out to Sukmander Singh, owner of Adesh Deol Trucking, but he declined to comment on the charges against Jaskirat Sidhu. Singh said in April that the driver was going to the doctor and receiving counselling. READ MORE: Humboldt bus crash cause unknown as new details on truck and bus driving companies emerge Singh said he basically went out of business after the crash because Alberta Transportation ordered his company to keep its only other truck off the road. WATCH BELOW: Semi driver in Humboldt Broncos bus crash could face upwards of 14 years in prison 1:38 Humboldt crash: Driver could face upwards of 14 years in prison Humboldt crash: Driver could face upwards of 14 years in prison – Jul 6, 2018 The Broncos were heading to Nipawin for a playoff game on April 6 when their bus and a semi collided in eastern Saskatchewan. Story continues below advertisement Williams said the families were informed of the charges on Friday. “I can further tell you that this morning, our investigators met with the families to inform them of the outcome of this investigation,” Williams said. “I know it’s been difficult for many to await the outcome of this police investigation, the time it took to do this work — this important work — was necessary,” added assistant commissioner Curtis Zablocki, the commanding officer of the RCMP in Saskatchewan. WATCH: ‘Happy charges were laid’: Widow of Humboldt Broncos head coach Darcy Haugan A core team of 20 investigators were assigned to the case, supplemented by 100 other investigators as required. In addition to collision re-enactment, 60 interviews and 6,000 photos were analyzed, along with the driver’s log book, Williams said. Story continues below advertisement Investigators also used 3D technology to capture evidence through unmanned aerial vehicles. WATCH BELOW: First responders of the Humboldt Broncos bus crash were honoured during the annual Calgary Stampede Parade. 1:10 Calgary Stampede honours Humboldt Broncos crash first responders Calgary Stampede honours Humboldt Broncos crash first responders – Jul 6, 2018 “We’ve looked at every aspect of the collision including the speed of the vehicles, point of impact, position of the vehicle, impairment, road and weather conditions and witness evidence,” Williams stated. “Every piece of information was carefully examined.” READ MORE: RCMP preparing for Crown consultation at end of Broncos bus crash investigation During an update last month, RCMP said they would be consulting with the Crown on possible charges once the investigation was complete. Story continues below advertisement Williams said they will continue to consult with the Crown as the investigation continues. The Humboldt Broncos issued a statement on the charges, thanking the RCMP for their work. “Our organization has faith in the justice system and we will be watching closely as this court process plays out.” WATCH BELOW: RCMP say lengthy investigation necessary before laying charges in Humboldt Broncos crash 1:47 RCMP say lengthy investigation necessary before laying charges in Humboldt Broncos crash RCMP say lengthy investigation necessary before laying charges in Humboldt Broncos crash – Jul 6, 2018 The Broncos said they will not be making any further comment on the investigation or charges until the judicial process has concluded, and their primary focus “continues to be supporting the survivors and others that were directly impacted by the tragedy.” READ MORE: Humboldt Broncos bus crash victims may soon get interim payments Tom Straschnitzki, whose son Ryan was paralyzed from the chest down, said he was relieved charges were laid. Story continues below advertisement “It’s finally come to charges being laid, so we are very happy about that because we don’t want that to be ignored at all,” Straschnitzki told The Canadian Press. “It should put a little closure to the first step and the second step is … let’s see what the courts do and find out what exactly happened. “I think that’s what people want to know. What exactly happened? How it did happen and why it happened.” WATCH: Ryan Straschnitzki home after treatment in U.S. 1:42 Ryan Straschnitzki home after treatment in U.S. Ryan Straschnitzki home after treatment in U.S – Jul 5, 2018 Straschnitzki said he and his wife, Michelle, hadn’t thought much about charges in the three months since the crash. “We were just too focused on Ryan and just had the faith in the RCMP that they did a lot of hard work to get it done. I guess we’ll just wait and see in the courts.” Story continues below advertisement — With files from James Armstrong, Rebecca Joseph, Andrew Russell and the Canadian Press<doc-sep>The driver of the tractor-trailer that collided with the Humboldt Broncos team bus has been arrested and charged, RCMP announced on Friday. Truck driver Jaskirat Singh Sidhu, 29, is facing 16 counts of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing death and 13 counts of dangerous operation of motor vehicle causing bodily injury. He was arrested at his home in Calgary on Friday morning and remanded into custody. Sidhu is set to appear in court in Saskatchewan next week, but no date has been set. Convictions for dangerous operation of a vehicle causing death can result in a sentence of up to 14 years in prison, while a conviction for injuring someone could land someone in prison for 10 years. RCMP superintendent explains the difference between dangerous driving and driving without due care and attention 0:36 RCMP Superintendent Derek Williams explains the difference between a dangerous driving charge and driving without due care and attention charge. 0:36 "Whatever happened, happened for a reason," said crash survivor and former Bronco Ryan Straschnitzki. "His intention wasn't to go out and hurt us that day, but that mistake is obviously going to change his life and changed all our lives." The Humboldt Broncos released a statement Friday afternoon thanking the RCMP and its investigators for their work. "Our organization has faith in the justice system and we will be watching closely as this court process plays out," the statement read. "Our primary focus continues to be supporting the survivors, families and others that were directly impacted by the tragedy on April 6." Sidhu was working for the Calgary-based Adesh Deol Trucking Ltd. when the crash occurred at a rural intersection. He was driving west on Highway 335 in a semi as a Charlie's Charters bus carrying the Humboldt Broncos was northbound on Highway 35 to an SJHL playoff game in Nipawin, Sask. The team bus was travelling northbound on Highway 35. The semi-trailer was coming from the east on Highway 335. The semi had a stop sign and the bus did not. (CBC ) The bus had the right of way. There is a flashing stop sign for drivers on Highway 335 at Highway 35 between Nipawin and Tisdale. The RCMP said the semi was in the intersection when the vehicles collided. Sidhu was briefly detained after the April 6 collision then released. He was uninjured. "I know it has been difficult for many to await the outcome of this police investigation," said Curtis Zablocki, Saskatchewan RCMP commanding officer and assistant commissioner, noting the three-month timeline. "The time it took to do this work — this important work — was necessary." The Canadian Trucking Alliance said in a statement Friday that once the facts of the case are known, it will work with the provinces and the federal government to improve commercial vehicle safety. The statement also said the CTA would like to see the results of the investigation into the trucking company that employed Sidhu. What we know about Sidhu Sidhu worked for the trucking company for a month prior to the fatal collision, according to owner Sukhmander Singh. Singh said Sidhu trained with him for two weeks and was driving on his own for two more weeks before the crash. Although Sidhu was not injured in the crash, he did receive trauma counselling in the aftermath. Sidhu was a bachelor of commerce student at Panjab University in Chandigarh, India, from 2008 until 2012, according to his LinkedIn profile. He made his way to Calgary on a student visa in 2013 to study for a diploma in business administration at Bow Valley College from 2014 until 2015. Sidhu's lawyer declined to comment on his client. The Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League's Humboldt Broncos were heading to Nipawin for a playoff game when the collision occurred. Ten Broncos players died. The six other deaths included the bus driver, an athletic therapist, the head coach, assistant coach and two employees of Humboldt's FM radio station. Ten members of the Broncos died in the crash. The six other deaths included the bus driver, an athletic therapist, the head coach, assistant coach and two employees of Humboldt's FM radio station. (CBC) Dangerous driving vs. criminal negligence Saskatoon-based criminal defence lawyer Brian Pfefferle said dangerous driving is just one of the possible charges that can be laid after serious collisions in Saskatchewan. Criminal negligence causing death and bodily harm would be among the other possible charges. Pfefferle said the RCMP's decision to charge Sidhu with dangerous driving suggests the Crown will argue that the driver's behaviour was more than negligence or a momentary lapse of judgment. In order to secure a conviction, Pfefferle said the Crown will have to prove that the accused was driving in "a manner that constituted a marked departure from the standard of a reasonably prudent driver in the circumstances." "There's lots of accidents that happen on Saskatchewan roadways where these types of charges aren't laid," said Pfefferle. "So I'm slightly surprised, I guess, by the fact that they've laid the charge but they obviously know information that the rest of the public doesn't know." The stop sign Police have not disclosed the findings of their investigation into how the crash happened. Brad Muir, an accident investigator with the Collision Reconstruction Group in Ajax, Ont., said he is pleased to see charges laid. "I think we need to look and dig a little further into the facts of not just going through a stop sign, but what was the speed?" he said. "We've got obviously a heavily laden commercial vehicle." Muir believes professional truck drivers need to be held to a high standard. "I think that's going to go into the decision-making of laying that higher level criminal charge," he said.<doc-sep>
Open this photo in gallery RCMP Assistant Commissioner Curtis Zablocki announces the charges laid against a semi-trailer driver involved in the Humboldt bus crash. Michael Bell/The Canadian Press Three months after a collision with a semi-trailer killed 16 people connected to the Humboldt Broncos hockey team, charges have been laid against the driver and Saskatchewan and Alberta plan to tighten the training of drivers of large vehicles. Jaskirat Singh Sidhu, 29, was arrested on Friday morning at his home in Calgary and charged with 16 counts of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing death and 13 counts of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing bodily harm. But while family members called the charges a necessary step, many said questions still remain about what happened. Story continues below advertisement “It doesn’t change anything,” said Isaac Labelle, whose brother Xavier was injured. “It won’t bring anyone back.” Mr. Sidhu was in custody and is expected to appear in court in Saskatchewan next week. The RCMP refused to release any details of their investigation into the events that led up to the crash, pending the court process. What we know about the Humboldt bus crash victims Healing in Humboldt: A look at small-town Saskatchewan spirit in action Superintendent Derek Williams noted, though, that Mr. Sidhu did not face any charges of impaired driving. The offences of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing bodily harm or death carry maximum sentences of 10 years and 14 years, respectively. “I know it’s been difficult for many to await the outcome of this police investigation; the time it took to do this work – this important work – was necessary,” RCMP Assistant Commissioner Curtis Zablocki said. The bus carrying the Broncos to a playoff game collided with a semi-trailer on a rural Saskatchewan highway on April 6, killing 16 people, including 10 players. Another 13 were injured. The truck driver, who was not hurt physically, was taken into custody that night and then released hours later. Open this photo in gallery Emergency personnel work at the scene of the fatal crash outside of Tisdale, Sask., in April. JONATHAN HAYWARD/The Associated Press The truck belonged to a small firm in Calgary – Adesh Deol Trucking Ltd. – and was shipping peat moss from a plant not far from the crash site. The company’s licence was suspended by Alberta Transportation in the days that followed the crash, which the ministry described as routine. Story continues below advertisement On Friday, Alberta Transportation Minister Brian Mason said ways to improve trucking safety could be announced within two weeks and will include qualification and training of drivers of large vehicles, how to test drivers in all licence categories and how better to regulate the trucking industry. He also said results of a review of intersection safety on Alberta’s highways should be available by the end of the summer. Tom Straschnitzki, whose son Ryan was paralyzed from the chest down, said he was relieved charges were laid. “It should put a little closure to the first step and the second step is … let’s see what the courts do and find out what exactly happened,” he said. “I think that’s what people want to know. What exactly happened? How it did happen and why it happened.″ Mr. Straschnitzki said he and his wife, Michelle, hadn’t thought much about charges in the three months since the crash. “We were just too focused on Ryan and just had the faith in the RCMP that they did a lot of hard work to get it done. I guess we’ll just wait and see in the courts.″ Story continues below advertisement The crash sparked an international outpouring of support for the victims and their families that crystallized into an online fundraising campaign that brought in $15-million. The team set up a non-profit organization to oversee the fund and is still sorting out how to distribute that money. Open this photo in gallery Flowers lie on the ice as people gather for a vigil at the Elgar Petersen Arena, home of the Humboldt Broncos, to honor the victims. Jonathan Hayward/The Associated Press Supt. Williams said the investigation involved more than 120 RCMP personnel, combing through records, interviewing five-dozen witnesses and using 3-D technology to determine what happened.