Ryan Straschnitzki of Airdrie has launched a $13.5 million lawsuit against several defendants that he feels are responsible for the April 6th, 2018 Humbolt Broncos bus crash that left him with severe injuries and killed 16 people.  

The lawsuit, filed on March 23rd in Alberta Court of Queen's Bench, names the estate of Glen Doerksen the driver of the Broncos bus who died in the crash, and Jaskirat Singh Sidhu, the driver of the semi that collided with the bus who is currently serving an eight-year prison term for the crash, as defendants.

Also among the defendants are the governments of both Alberta and Saskatchewan.

The suit alleges that bus driver Doerksen was speeding when the collision happened and also that he was aware of approaching an intersection where numerous other fatalities had happened in the past.

The lawsuit is seeking compensation for catastrophic injuries suffered, by Straschnitzki, for lost wages and for punitive damages from Doerksen's estate, Sidhu and the others. Along with being left paralyzed from the chest down, Straschnitzki says he now suffers from severe headaches, cognitive difficulties, nightmares, insomnia, severe anxiety, anger, and depression. In the lawsuit, he says he is expecting further medical complications and trouble in the years to come.    

The Alberta and Saskatchewan governments are named for leaving the responsibility for transportation to the federal government.  It also alleges that Alberta failed to oversee adequate truck driver training and Saskatchewan failed to install rumble strips, warning signs and clear sightlines at the intersection where the crash occurred. 

Both transportation companies, Adesh Deol Trucking Ltd., the owners of the semi, and Charlie's Charters Ltd., owners of the bus are also named in the suit.

None of the allegations have been proven in court and none of the defendants have yet filed a statement of defence.