Driver in Humboldt crash wasn香蕉视频直播檛 distracted at time of collision with bus, document says, read a headline.
It reminds me of a joke my mother, a Saskatchewan resident, tells, 香蕉视频直播淎 small car and a semi collided. The driver of the semi said, 香蕉视频直播淚t wasn香蕉视频直播檛 my fault.香蕉视频直播� The driver of the car香蕉视频直播� had no comment.香蕉视频直播�
Therein lies the crux of it. Those involved in semi collisions are invariably unable to express their side of the story.
In R. v. Sidhu, the criminal case involving the driver of the semi that collided with the Humboldt Broncos香蕉视频直播� team bus, the Crown and Sidhu agreed to a statement of facts.
Nothing in the Agreed Statement of Facts is inconsistent with the possibility that the driver may have been asleep as he approached that now infamous intersection.
The Agreed Statement of Facts contains the following statements.
香蕉视频直播淭he Semi-Tractor Unit did not stop prior to entering the intersection. No tire skid marks due to braking were left by the Semi-Tractor Unit.香蕉视频直播�
香蕉视频直播淎t the point of the impact, the Semi-Tractor Unit, together with two of the trailers was completely in the intersection and spanning all lanes of Highway 35, when it was struck in T-bone fashion by the Bus.香蕉视频直播�
香蕉视频直播淭here were no environmental conditions that contributed to the collision.香蕉视频直播�
香蕉视频直播淧rior to the collision with the Bus, as the Semi-Tractor Unit driven by Sidhu was approaching the Intersection, Sidhu passed.香蕉视频直播�
Five different signs, including an oversized stop sign, four feet in diameter, with a red flashing traffic light attached near the top. The light flashed once per second.
Remarkably, the driver missed all of these signs, including the flashing red light.
香蕉视频直播淭he driver of the Semi-Tractor Unit failed to recognize the hazard and took minimal or no action in an effort to avoid the collision.香蕉视频直播�
香蕉视频直播淭he driver of the Semi-Tractor Unit failed to recognize that his vehicle was approaching an intersection and did not stop as required.香蕉视频直播�
香蕉视频直播淪idhu香蕉视频直播� caused the collision香蕉视频直播� and 香蕉视频直播渕assive damage to the bus.香蕉视频直播�
香蕉视频直播淎lcohol and drugs were not a factor香蕉视频直播�. Also, Sidhu is not believed to have been distracted as a result of using his cell phone at the time of the collision.香蕉视频直播�
However, Agreed Statement of Facts is worded very carefully. It does not make a blanket statement that he was not otherwise distracted.
Such as asleep at the wheel.
The trucking company had numerous hours of service violations.
An explanation was offered at the sentencing hearing of a tarp that had apparently been flapping in the wind. He had apparently stopped previously to fix it.
Who can refute this?
Who can counter the driver香蕉视频直播檚 story? Provide another side to this story?
No one.
Assuming the tarp was a problem, and he did fix it earlier, did he then fall asleep prior to entering the intersection? The facts as I read them are not inconsistent with this possibility.
Sidhu is represented by a well-known Saskatchewan criminal lawyer.
Apparently, Sidhu wanted to save the families from a trial. All very well, although I must wonder if some may have wanted more information than was provided at the sentencing hearing.
Avoiding a trial may also have saved Sidhu from greater scrutiny.
We may never know the full story.
We know there are many huge trucks, inadequately regulated, freely travelling the same roads on which we drive our families.
Just weeks ago, I was driving my children to an appointment in Vernon, B.C. one clear, beautiful morning.
Highway 97 North of Kelowna was closed that morning.
You guessed it, a semi had collided with a small vehicle.
An 18-year-old Oyama resident was presumably traveling to work or school on what was supposed to be an ordinary day. His whole life was ahead of him. He did not make it to his destination. His family is left grieving.
Obviously, the status quo is unacceptably dangerous. It is time to adequately regulate the trucking industry. Drivers must have better training and more experience. Greater rest periods must be required. Maybe rail ought to be preferred. Maybe semis ought to drive only at night. Maybe double trailers ought to be prohibited. Stiff penalties are needed, as is a registry of semi collisions on highways.
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