A man from Angus has pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death and bodily harm in connection with a devastating August 2023 crash that killed Olympic figure skater Alexandra Paul and injured several others.
Sukhwinder Sidhu, 31, entered the guilty pleas in a virtual court appearance on Tuesday, accepting responsibility ahead of a trial that had been scheduled to begin later this month. The charges stem from a collision in Melancthon Township that claimed the life of Paul, a new mother, and left multiple victims seriously injured, including her infant son.
Ontario Provincial Police say Sidhu was driving a transport truck through a construction zone on County Road 124 when he slammed into a line of stopped vehicles. Investigators determined he was travelling at nearly twice the posted reduced speed limit of 60 km/h, ignoring multiple warning signs. Court heard Sidhu had been working for approximately 26 hours at the time and was driving between 102 and 108 km/h, close to the truck’s maximum speed.
Paul’s vehicle was struck with such force that it was pushed into a ditch, killing her. Her 10-month-old son suffered a broken leg, while three men in other vehicles sustained serious, life-altering injuries.
Sidhu is scheduled to be sentenced in mid-May, when victim impact statements are expected to be presented in court.