Saskatchewan highways will be slightly safer during the next year after former semi-driver Gagandeep Singh Sandhu pleaded guilty to driving impaired near Moose Jaw and had his license revoked.
Moose Jaw RCMP received a call from a concerned motorist around 2 p.m. on June 8, 2023, about an erratic semi-driver travelling east on Highway 1 and swerving back and forth, Crown prosecutor Rob Parker said in Moose Jaw Provincial Court recently while reading the facts.
Motorists behind the semi had difficulty passing and kept braking as it continued to veer from the road to the ditch and back, he continued. Police eventually pulled over the semi-truck and discovered Sandhu, 27, behind the wheel; they also smelled alcohol on him.
He refused to provide breath samples to police, so they took him to the station and charged him.
Parker urged Judge Brian Hendrickson to impose a fine of $3,000 and one-year driving prohibition because not only was Sandhu operating a semi-truck, it was an “extremely dangerous vehicle” to operate while intoxicated on the highway. Moreover, motorists had difficulty passing safely, while this incident occurred mid-afternoon.
Sandhu is originally from India and moved to Alberta in 2005, while he was a semi-driver until this incident occurred, said defence lawyer Estes Fonkelsrud. He was also struggling with mental health challenges during this incident and drinking to excess; RCMP officers found alcohol in the vehicle.
Sandhu has given up driving truck and returned to Alberta, where he has moved in with his parents because he cannot support himself financially, the lawyer continued. Meanwhile, he is seeing a doctor for his depression and mental health challenges.
“He is apologetic for what happened … . He understands that it could have been a tragic circumstance for him or someone else,” Fonkelsrud added.
Sandhu, appearing by phone, concurred with his lawyer, saying, “I’m really, really sorry for what happened.”
Judge Hendrickson accepted the joint submission, imposed the hefty fine and driving prohibition, and agreed to waive the victim surcharge.
