Skyway bridge trial verdict

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The man who crashed a dump truck into the Skyway bridge back in 2014 has been found guilty of dangerous driving but that verdict is overshadowed by the charges that Sukhvinder Singh Rai managed to avoid.

It’s well known that Sukhvinder Singh Rai beat the two impaired driving charges despite breath test that was almost three times the legal limit. Today he was also acquitted of the charge of mischief endangering life, but in the end could not avoid the dangerous driving charge.

“Well I’m not sure if pleased is the right word but we’re certainly content that the more serious charges we’re, he was found not guilty.” David Locke, defence lawyer.

Initially Rai faced four charges related to the crash, dangerous driving, mischief endangering life and two counts of impaired driving. On the third charge, mischief endangering life, the crown had argued that Rai lifted the box on his truck on purpose. Over the course of the trial evidence was presented to show how two levers must be engaged for the box of Rai’s truck to raise. But an expert witness for the defence testified that Rai’s truck was safety deficient and it could have theoretically raised on it’s own.

Court heard that Rai had only been on the job at Peel Transport for 2 months and the his training was minimal. Today Justice Campling agreed, saying, “I cannot find beyond a reasonable doubt that you deliberately raised the box of your truck.”

But there were elements that Rai could not escape. The fact that the OPP could smell alcohol on Rai’s breath and that there was alcohol found in the truck remained as evidence. Also, it was documented there are safety precautions that Rai did not take, Justice Campling said: “You are responsible for knowing (those precautions) and for operating your vehicle safely.” For that, Sukhvinder Singh Rai was found guilty.

The criminal code allows for a maximum of 5 years in jail for dangerous driving and a possible 10 year driving prohibition. To find out what he will get, we will wait until June 6th when both sides return for sentencing.