Father meets Broncos crash semi driver at sentencing hearing

A father who has been among the most vocal of the parents affected by the Humboldt Broncos bus tragedy has met face-to-face with the man responsible for the devastating April 6, 2018 crash.

Scott Thomas, whose son Evan died in the tragic collision, met with Jaskirat Singh Sidhu Wednesday in a small room at Melfort’s Kerry Vickar Centre.

Thomas told 650 CKOM he was approached by Sidhu’s brother during a morning recess in the semi driver’s sentencing hearing, and asked if he would like to meet.

Judge Inez Cardinal adjourned the hearing around noon, at which point Sidhu’s brother and another man brought Thomas to a meeting room.

Sidhu walked in shortly after.

“It was probably the most emotionally challenging 15-minute encounter that I have ever had,” Thomas said in a text.

The Saskatoon father has said for months he’d like to speak with Sidhu, noting such a meeting would have to be initiated by the now 30-year-old man.

But he wouldn’t disclose what was said between them.

“All I’ll say for now is it was intensely emotional,” he said, noting he’s now returned to Saskatoon and won’t attend the rest of the sentencing hearing.

Thomas is at least the second parent to speak with Sidhu during the sentencing hearing.

Tricia Wack, who lost her son Stephen in the crash, knelt beside the semi driver and spoke quietly with him while she placed a hand on his shoulder on Monday morning.

Legal arguments in Sidhu’s sentencing begin Thursday, with Crown prosecutor Tom Healey set to lay out his request for how long Sidhu should serve in prison.

After defence counsel Mark Brayford makes his case for his client, the judge will offer Sidhu a chance to address the court and the Broncos families in attendance.

Follow the proceedings live by following 650 CKOM reporter Chris Vandenbreekel on Twitter.