Burlington Skyway Crash - Driver Pleads "Not Guilty"

the image is misleading, that isn't the drunk driver.

and I also hope this is used as an example, this type of situation gives all of transportation a bad name, like the whole industry is a danger to society.
 
Next surprise, guy never shows for trial. Comes back to Canada about six months later with a new ID.
 
Here's who that is...
trucker-steve-panchuk.jpg

Trucker Steve Panchuk came from Brampton to Hamilton's John Sopinka courthouse to see for himself what's happening with the court case against Sukhvinder Singh Rai. (Adam Carter/CBC)

Steve Panchuk is a 15-year veteran of the trucking industry from Brampton, and he went to Hamilton's John Sopinka courthouse Friday morning just to see for himself what's happening with the case.

"I’m angry because it gives everybody a bad name," Panchuk said. "The first thing the ministry does is start stopping every truck on the road, checking licences, insurance, paperwork, hours of work, you’re ruining everything else because some bozo is up there driving around hammered out of his mind – allegedly, I guess.
 
The caption underneath the picture gives the impression that THAT is the driver. Did they do that on purpose maybe???
 
If he was in police care for 5 hours after he hit the bridge and there was absolutely no way for him to drink after the fact, then I think the judge should of taken a different look at this. What a waste of our tax dollars. This man will get off with a slap on his wrist, and hard working truck drivers will carry his type of reputation through out the industry. What a damn joke!!!
 
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Joke doesn't even begin to describe this bullsh(*(*&!! how can the judge do that? I would think the chain of custody would warrant merit in this case?? yes?
 
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We had a driver who was t-boned by a woman who ran a red light. She was rushed to hospital where it was touch-and-go. The police officer charged her with careless driving (there were witnesses) but because she was in a coma, he gave the ticket to her parents.

Long-story-short: The woman had a lawyer who got her acquitted because the cop did not give the ticket directly to her. The judge said he should have tucked the ticket under her oxygen mask.

Same nationality as this dump truck driver.

They are not stupid and I would not be surprised if this guy walked away scot-free as well.
 
It sure sounds like a joke, BUT the police have responsibilities also. And they should darn well know that a crash involving a commercial vehicle under those circumstances requires an alcohol test. I don't have any sympathy for this driver, or the company that employed him, but I don't agree that the police should get away with sloppy work either. The know what they have to do, and should have done it right away.
 
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Yes it has turned into a joke. However, the judge stated that this was an unusual case and due to the emergency situation the police had their hands full and he understood why a test was not given in time. In fairness to the cop who was dealing with a major emergency and wrongly did not suspect that alcohol was a factor and thought that if buddy was a little dazed it was due to the accident as opposed to being %$#^faced.
I totally agree that justice has not been served in this case, however the law is the law and a judges job is not to interpret the law but to base his decision solely on the law and the facts presented and not on other factors. We do not want a justice system where a judge find someone guilty or innocent based on his own opinion or emotions, regardless of the law. The law needs to be changed.
 
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I'm not trying to come across as overly critical of the police here... for real! But doesn't the law require that a drug test be performed after any accident that causes injury or the towing of the vehicle? I'm just not sure that the police officer has to have reasonable cause to perform a drug test. I think it is a 100% requirement that the test be done after a crash of this nature. That is why I do understand why the judge has not allowed this into evidence. There has to be some sort of protocol to follow after a commercial vehicle crashes. Anybody else have any thoughts about this? :)
 
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chica123 said:
I'm not trying to come across as overly critical of the police here... for real! But doesn't the law require that a drug test be performed after any accident that causes injury or the towing of the vehicle? I'm just not sure that the police officer has to have reasonable cause to perform a drug test. I think it is a 100% requirement that the test be done after a crash of this nature. That is why I do understand why the judge has not allowed this into evidence. There has to be some sort of protocol to follow after a commercial vehicle crashes. Anybody else have any thoughts about this? :)
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Very Good comment chica123. and in fairness to the cops are they not trained to sniff out alcohol on a person, I can smell it a mile away...but maybe that's a woman thing.
 
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