Former Bronco, parents, Alberta suing semi driver, trucking company
Former Humboldt Broncos player Derek Patter, seriously injured two years ago when a semi collided with the team bus, is suing the truck driver and his former employer.
Joining Patter in the lawsuit — filed Friday at Regina Court of Queen’s Bench — are his parents Roy and Laurel and the province of Alberta, the latter seeking compensation for Patter’s health services in the amount of $250,000.
The amount sought by Patter and his parents is not specified, but it includes loss of past and future income, past and future losses pertaining to rehabilitation and care, economic and non-economic losses, costs and interest.
Patter was 19 when, on April 6, 2018, the Broncos’ bus was struck by a semi that blew through a stop sign at the intersection of highways 35 and 335 near Nipawin. The crash ultimately left 16 people dead and another 13 — including Patter — injured.
According to the statement of claim, Patter suffered numerous injuries that included a concussion with resulting amnesia; a subdural hematoma; fractures to his nose, teeth and leg; pain and loss of range of motion to various parts of his body; scarring from lacerations, abrasions and surgery; joint dysfunction; chronic pain and impaired strength and capacity, as well as limitation of endurance; and severe psychological injury and trauma.
The statement of claim names Calgary truck driver Jaskirat Singh Sidhu and Alberta-based Adesh Deol Trucking Ltd., which owned the truck.
The lawsuit claims negligence on the part of Sidhu for failing to stop despite traffic controls in place; failing to yield the right of way; entering the intersection while unsafe; driving without due care and attention; operating the semi when it wasn’t equipped with proper or adequate brakes; failing to keep a proper lookout; driving while his windshield and field of vision were impaired; failing to take evasive action to avoid the crash; driving while distracted “by the operation of an electronic device or other unlawful distraction”; and operating the semi in violation of federal and provincial regulations.
In relation to the company, the claim alleges failure to equip the semi with proper or adequate brakes and windshield; failure to maintain the semi in a “proper or satisfactory manner”; failure to properly supervise, educate or train Sidhu; and permitting Sidhu to drive in contravention of federal and provincial regulations.
While Sidhu has already been convicted and sentenced, allegations laid out in the statement of claim need to be proven in civil court.
Sidhu pleaded guilty in January 2019 to 16 counts of dangerous driving causing death and 13 counts of dangerous driving causing bodily harm. He was sentenced the following March to eight years in prison.