Truck driver gets 10 years for fiery crash that killed four on Laval highway

Witnesses help as two tractor-trailers and a passenger vehicle collided on Highway 440 in Laval on Aug. 5, 2019 (Photo courtesy Peter Christakos)

Jagmeet Grewal, 58, the Quebec truck driver responsible for the 2019 fatal fiery multi-vehicle pile-up on Highway 440 in Laval, was sentenced to a decade in prison on Thursday.

The crash killed four people — Robert Tanguay-Plante, Sylvain Pouliot, Michèle Bernier and Gilles Marsolais — and injured another 15.

“Innocent victims that were at the wrong place at the wrong time perished and others were severely injured and are still carrying their pain and sufferings,” wrote Superior Court Justice Yanick Laramée in his ruling.

“Considering the exceptional circumstances of this case, the abovementioned elements, the gravity of the crime, the highly blameworthy behaviour of the offender, his moral culpability at the time of the offence, the severe consequences on the victims and their families, and the applicable case law, this Court concludes that a severe sentence must be imposed.”

On Aug. 5, 2019, Grewal was driving a semi without a valid license, hauling a 53-foot trailer, when he crashed into a traffic jam travelling around 100 km/h, causing a major fire, and some occupants were trapped in their cars.

“There was no possible way for them to get out of their vehicles as they caught fire very quickly,” wrote Laramée.

Surveillance cameras showed him not holding the steering wheel at the time.

• READ MORE: Four dead in fiery truck crash on Highway 440 in Laval

“Without any reaction, he drove directly into the queue of immobilized vehicles,” Laramée wrote. “The impact caused a domino effect that led him to collide destructively with multiple vehicles, including another tractor-trailer.”

Family members testified during the trial.

“It was difficult to hear the amount of pain and suffering each have experienced and continues to experience,” the judge wrote. “The Court is conscious that no sentence could ever erase, diminish, or remove their sufferings.”

‘He should have never been behind the wheel’

The father of three was working for Tatapuh, Inc. at the time, “a job that he secured through omissions, lies and by acting fraudulently.”

“The offender used a false Canadian police certificate to prove to his future employer that he had no criminal record,” Laramée wrote. “It is indisputable that on August 5, 2019, he should have never been behind the wheel of a heavy truck.”

The Quebec auto insurance board (SAAQ) said that he was unfit to work as a truck driver “due to major physical and psychological problems.”

Grewal’s license was suspended at the time of the crash, and he was collecting financial compensation from the SAAQ, the court document reads.

In addition, he drove illegally “on many occasions” between 2021 and 2023 when his license was suspended for unpaid fines.

He was detained leading up to sentencing after being arrested for lack of cooperation with conditions.

“His record shows that he was convicted three times for impaired driving back in the ‘90s,” the judge wrote. “Of course, those offences date back, however, they symbolize a pattern of disregard for the law and public safety.”

‘Selfish behaviour’ and ‘worrisome pattern of lying’

The judge writes that Grewal has a recurring pattern of not taking accountability for his actions and a “very worrisome pattern of lying when he wants to get something or when he wants to avoid responsibility.”

“His selfish behavior throughout the years illustrates that he always makes decisions that are in his own best interest, sweeping away any consideration or respect for the fundamental values of our society,” Laramée wrote.

Grewal was implicated in another crash in 2018 and pretended to be the victim of identity theft to avoid charges.

The police eventually discovered that he lied and was the driver. He was convicted in 2021 of public mischief and obstruction of justice.

“Again, only with his best interests in mind, the offender lied under very serious circumstances to avoid any responsibility of him driving a tractor-trailer,” the document reads.

As a result, Laramée handed down a stiff sentence.

“The Court must send a clear message to Mr. Grewal that this kind of behaviour will not be tolerated in our society,” he wrote. “The Court must also send an important message to all professional truck drivers from whom the highest standard of professionalism, integrity and competence are required.”