Skyway dump truck crash driver no-show for court date

(Updated)

The truck driver who drove into the Burlington Skyway forcing its closure for days did not appear in court this morning. Instead, his lawyer represented him.

Sukhvinder Singh Rai, 34, from Brampton was driving a dump truck with the bucket raised, when it slammed into the bridge back on July 31st. The crash closed the Skyway for the Civic Holiday weekend.

Today was supposed to be Rai’s first court appearance. He’s charged with impaired driving, to which Rai’s lawyer says he’ll likely plead not guilty.

Rai is not in custody, but has had his licence suspended for 90 days.

The highway was closed for four days. All Toronto bound traffic on the QEW was either stuck behind the lift bridge on Eastport Drive or forced to detour through Hamilton.
The crash destroyed a steel beam that spans the bridge. A temporary beam is in place now.

A new beam has to be designed specifically to fit the bridge. It’s being designed now and later companies will bid on the project. It is not known how much it will cost.

If there’s any finding of negligence in court, the Ministry of Transportation will be seeking damages from the driver and the owner of the truck.

There will be more traffic delays in a couple months, when the beam is replaced.

Truck driver Steve Panchuk drove from Brampton to witness Rai’s court appearance.

“I am angry. It gives everybody a bad name. The first thing the Ministry does is start stopping every truck on the road checking licences etc… because some bozo’s out there driving around, hammered out of his mind, allegedly I guess.”

His lawyer says Rai expects to start working again soon, doing something other than driving.

His next court date is October 3rd.