Accused in Humboldt crash released on bail

MELFORT, SASK. — A transport truck driver charged in a crash that killed 16 people with the Humboldt Broncos junior hockey team bus has been released on $1,000 bail.

Jaskirat Sidhu, who is 29 and from Calgary, faces several conditions, including that he not drive and that he surrender his passport.

Sidhu is charged with

16 counts of dangerous driving causing death and 13 counts of dangerous driving causing bodily injury.

He appeared in a Melfort,

Sask., court this morning, where the case was put over to Aug. 21.

Scott Thomas, whose son Evan died in the crash, says he felt compelled to go to court. Thomas says he caught Sidhu’s eye once, but just felt empty.

Sixteen people, including 10 players, were killed and 13 players were injured when the junior hockey team’s bus and a transport truck driven by Sidhu crashed at a rural Saskatchewan intersection on April 6.

The hockey team was headed to a playoff game.

Sidhu was not hurt in the crash. He was arrested after the crash, but was released the same night.

RCMP have said 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.

CANADIAN PRESS FILE PHOTO The family of one of 16 people killed in a crash involving the Humboldt Broncos filed a lawsuit. Adam Herold’s father, Russell; mother, Raelene; and sister Erin are pictured here celebrating what would have been Adam’s 17th birthday April 12.