Former Humboldt Bronco Hockey Player Files Lawsuit After Deadly Bus Crash

A paralyzed hockey player involved in the deadly 2018 Humboldt Bronco team bus crash is suing the estate of the deceased bus driver and the driver of the truck involved in the collision, the charter bus company, trucking company, as well as the governments of Alberta and Saskatchewan.

The fatal collision took place at a highway intersection notorious for deadly accidents, claims the plaintiff Ryan Alexander Straschnitzki’s lawsuit. The lawsuit contends that both the bus driver, who died in the accident, as well as the driver of a peat moss truck that blew through the intersection were responsible for the plaintiff’s severe injuries, as well as the deaths of 15 of his teammates.

The accident took place on April 6, 2018 at approximately 4:30 in the afternoon, according to the paralyzed hockey player’s lawsuit. The Humboldt Broncos hockey team was headed north on Highway 35, approaching an intersection with Highway 335, in the province of Saskatchewan.

According to the complaint, the driver of the hockey team’s chartered bus was going 119 km/h in a 100 km/h zone. The driver, says the now paralyzed hockey player, was aware that the intersection he was approaching was dangerous because of a blind spot.

At the same time the bus was headed north on Highway 35, the driver of a peat moss truck was headed west on Highway 335. The truck driver allegedly blew the intersection, blocking the path of the bus. The result was the catastrophic accident that paralyzed the hockey player and killed 15 of his teammates, along with the driver of the bus.

According to the lawsuit, the truck driver was convicted of 16 counts of dangerous driving causing death and 13 counts of dangerous driving causing bodily harm. The former Humboldt Bronco hockey player’s complaint accuses the driver of failure to exercise reasonable care while driving, specifically, failing to stop for a stop sign and speeding, as well as failure to take evasive action during the collision. The plaintiff also alleges that the truck driver was operating while excessively tired, distracted and failing to keep a proper lookout.

The paralyzed hockey player’s injuries allegedly include:

• Loss of consciousness at the scene
• Extensive hospitalization
• Injuries to his upper thoracic spine to lower extremities resulting in paralysis
• Headaches and migraines
• Cognitive difficulties
• Visual changes
• Sensitivity to noise and light
• Emotional suffering, frustration, irritability, anger, depression, and unreasonable reactions to stimuli
• Insomnia and nightmares
• Fatigue
• Excessive medication, including antibiotics, anti-depressants, anti-inflammatories, and anti-anxiety prescriptions
• Additional surgeries
• Required care taking
• Loss of work opportunities
• Future medical complications
• Restrictions on his daily life.

In addition to the bus and truck drivers, the plaintiff says that the governments of Alberta and Saskatchewan share responsibility in the deadly incident. The collision occurred at a highway intersection in Saskatchewan; the lawsuit contends that the government of the province was responsible for the design and maintenance of the highway. The particular highway intersection where the crash occurred was notorious for fatal accidents, alleges the complaint, and the government had a duty to make it safer for motorists.

The government of Alberta is also named as a defendant in the former Humboldt Bronco hockey player’s lawsuit. According to the complaint, provincial agencies were in charge of ensuring that carriers, such as the Alberta-based charter bus service used by the hockey team and the peat moss truck, were registered. The province was also responsible for ensuring enforcement of requirements.

According to the former Humboldt Bronco hockey player’s lawsuit, the trucking company that owned and operated the truck involved in the collision shares responsibility for the plaintiff’s injuries. Specifically, the complaint says that the trucking company, Adesh Deol Trucking LTD, failed to adhere to an appropriate safety plan, including requiring truck drivers follow posted speed limits, seat-belt use, alcohol use, defensive driving, and fueling.

The plaintiff also claims that the trailer pulled by the truck was improperly maintained and contributed to the collision.

In addition, the charter bus company that was hired by the paralyzed hockey player’s team was also responsible, in part, for the deadly crash. The plaintiff reiterates that the bus driver was speeding and also failed to slow down while he was approaching the intersection. The charter bus company was responsible for appropriately training the driver to avoid speeding and to slow for stop signs, alleges the lawsuit.

Further, the paralyzed hockey player alleges that the bus company failed to properly maintain the brakes on the charter bus, install seatbelts, keep up to date with safety regulations and communicate those regulations to drivers.

The plaintiff is seeking millions of dollars in damages for his injuries and future care, along with any other damages deemed appropriate by the court.

What do you think of the paralyzed former Humboldt Bronco hockey player’s lawsuit? Tell us your opinion in the comment section below!

The plaintiff is represented by Richard H. Edwards of Edwards Injury Law.

The Paralyzed Hockey Player Lawsuit is Ryan Alexander Straschnitzki v. Jaskirat Singh Sidhu, et al., Case No. 2001-04633 in the Queen’s Bench of Alberta Calgary, Canada. 

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