The family of an Airdrie hockey player whose life was forever changed on April 6th, 2018 is relieved they, and the other families of victims in the Humboldt bus tragedy, won't have to suffer through a lengthy trial after the driver of the semi that collided with the bus entered a guilty plea to all the counts facing him.  

Michelle Straschnhitzki, the mother of Ryan who was paralyzed from the chest down in the crash that killed 16 people and injured 13 more, says now that Jaskirat Singh Sidhu has pleaded guilty to 16 counts of dangerous driving causing death and 13 of dangerous driving causing bodily harm, it brings a huge relief to everyone.

"We won't have to be dragged through the courts reliving the horror and the tragedy for a lengthy period, and we're grateful for that I think.  It doesn't change anything, unfortunately, but it certainly does take a burden off our shoulders."

As for Ryan's thoughts on the guilty plea, his mother says he's keeping those thoughts private.  "In typical Ryan fashion, he doesn't really have too much to say about it.  I think he's trying to keep it close to the vest and maybe looking at it as a good place to start moving on and looking forward to the future and just trying to live the best life for his brothers and sister and coaches and everyone."

Outside the courtroom in Melfort, Saskatchewan, Sidhu's lawyer read a prepared statement saying his client feels terrible and is very sorry he caused the tragedy.  Sidhu advised his lawyer that he wanted to plead guilty and "not make things any worse."  He said he was devastated by the grief he'd caused the families.

Michelle Strasdhnitzki said that he family cannot, and will not, hold any animosity against Sidhu.  "No, honestly we don't and we can't, fully realizing that he feels terrible and he has to live with it.  As well, he has a young family.  Honestly, I don't believe for one second that it's entirely his fault.  There's a lot of people up the chain that need to be held accountable and I don't want to ruin his entire life.  Having said that, there needs to be a message sent that, whatever the cause was, this tragedy and devastation, it should never have happened and it should never, ever happen again.  I hope no other families ever go through that."

Sentencing for Sidhu is scheduled to begin on January 28th in Melfort.  Because of the number of victim impact statements that are expected to be entered, the sentencing process is expected to take three days.  Michelle Straschnitzki says statements from her family will be among those entered.

"Yes, I think we all are (going to prepare statements).  All of our family and any friends who would like to.  They're more than willing to have that submitted as well.  Not so much as a further punishment, but simply to get things off of our chest.  Being able to say just how this has really affected everyone.  Even as much as just being displaced from our home.  It's not to further lend itself to punishing him but to explain and explore the far-reaching depths of this tragedy."

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