Justice Yanick Laramée

By Chelsey St-Pierre
The Suburban

Jagmeet Grewal, the truck driver from Dorval at the centre of the fatal Highway 440 crash in Laval, was sentenced to 10 years in prison on Thursday, marking the harshest penalty ever imposed in Quebec for criminal negligence causing death behind the wheel. Justice Yanick Laramée, presiding at the Laval courthouse, explained that Grewal’s actions reflected “profound contempt for the law and for road safety,” highlighting his repeated dishonesty and refusal to take responsibility for the devastation he caused.

The tragedy unfolded on August 5, 2019, when Grewal’s transport truck failed to stop as it approached heavy, visible traffic near the Highway 15 exit. Without braking, the truck plowed into a line of vehicles, triggering a fiery pileup that killed four people—Gilles Marsolais, Michèle Bernier, Sylvain Pouliot, and Robert Tanguay-Laplante—and seriously injured four others. The crash occurred in clear weather and under normal road conditions, making the disaster even more difficult for families to comprehend. Many victims were trapped in their vehicles as fire rapidly consumed the wreckage, leaving loved ones unable to say goodbye.

Court proceedings revealed a troubling history behind Grewal’s presence on the road. Several years prior, he had lost his commercial driving privileges for life following an accident in the United States. Medical assessments deemed him unfit to operate heavy vehicles due to significant physical and psychological limitations, and he was not adhering to his prescribed treatment. Despite this, Grewal managed to obtain a new license as a result of an administrative error at the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ). He then falsified documents and concealed his medical history and prior offences—including convictions for driving with a suspended license and impaired driving—to secure employment as a truck driver.

During sentencing, prosecutor Simon Blais argued for a severe penalty, pointing to Grewal’s disregard for the law, the magnitude of the tragedy, and the deliberate deception that enabled him to continue driving. Defence lawyer Philipe G. Knerr requested a prison term of four to five years, noting procedural violations during the investigation and Grewal’s age and health issues. Justice Laramée ultimately sided with the prosecution, emphasizing the devastating and irreversible consequences of Grewal’s choices, the exceptional circumstances of the case, and the need to send a clear message to commercial drivers about the seriousness of their responsibilities.

The 10-year sentence exceeds those handed down in similar cases, such as the eight-year term given to the truck driver in the 2018 Humboldt Broncos tragedy in Saskatchewan. Justice Laramée stated that this harsher penalty reflects not only the loss suffered by the victims’ families, but also society’s demand for accountability and deterrence in the transport industry.

While the defense pointed to Grewal’s age and health, the court was unmoved. The judge ordered that all sentences be served concurrently, but made clear that the punishment reflects both the irreversible loss suffered by the victims’ families and the need to deter similar conduct in the future. For those left behind, the pain remains raw. In their statements, relatives described sleepless nights and the ongoing struggle to move forward. Many hope stricter oversight of commercial trucking and licensing will follow, so no other families endure such devastation. n