The RCMP in Saskatchewan have arrested a 29-year-old man in connection to the Humboldt bus tragedy.
Jaskirat Singh Sidhu was arrested at his Calgary home Friday morning. He is the driver of the semi-tractor trailer involved in the collision, according to Assistant Commander Curtis Zablocki, commanding officer of the Saskatchewan RCMP.
The announcement was made during a press conference Friday afternoon in Regina.
Sidhu is charged with 16 counts of dangerous driving of a motor vehicle causing death, and 13 counts of dangerous driving of a motor vehicle causing bodily harm.
Sixteen people, including 13 members of the Humboldt Broncos hockey team, died on April 6 when their team bus hit a semi-tractor trailer at an intersection near Armley. The team was on its way to a playoff game. The dead included the team's head coach, their play-by-play announcer, their statistician and the bus driver.
Thirteen more people were injured.
Superintendent Derek Williams of the RCMP's Major Crimes Unit says over 20 investigators meticulously looked at every potential component of the case, to ensure that they had enough information to lay charges.
"We required evidence to show that the motor vehicle was being driven with danger to the public," said Williams. "We've looked at every aspect of the collision."
Court information for the accused has not been finalized, according to the RCMP.
The incident, the deadliest tragedy involving a sports team in Canadian history, produced an outpouring of grief across the country and major fundraising was done for the victims and their families. A GoFundMe campaign raised over $15-million. Hockey clubs at various levels around the world provided tributes and financial support, and people across the country paid tribute by leaving hockey sticks on their doorsteps.
The team is trying to bounce back from the tragedy, having already decided to field a team for next season.