Ontario court sentences truck driver in crash that killed former Olympian Alexandra Paul

An Ontario court has sentenced truck driver Sukhwinder Sidhu to two years and five months in prison in connection with a 2023 crash that killed former Canadian Olympian Alexandra Paul.

According to proceedings in the Orangeville court, the collision happened on Aug. 22, 2023, in a construction zone in Melancthon Township. Police and court records said Paul was returning home from her family cottage when a transport truck driven by Sidhu struck seven vehicles.

Paul, a figure skater who represented Canada at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, died in the crash. Her 10-month-old child suffered a broken leg, while four other people were also injured.

Court findings stated that Sidhu had allegedly been driving for about 16 consecutive hours before the collision. Investigators also told the court the truck was travelling about 108 km/h in a posted 60 km/h construction zone at the time of the crash.

The court said Sidhu will also face a seven-year driving prohibition after completing the prison sentence. The case highlights ongoing concerns around commercial vehicle safety and driver fatigue regulations in Ontario.