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MELFORT — The father of a player killed in the Humboldt Broncos bus crash said it was important for him to be in court for the first appearance of the Calgary semi driver charged in the collision, in case it was his only chance to see the man in person.

Scott Thomas, whose son Evan died in the collision, said earlier this week that he was unsure if he would be in Melfort provincial court for Jaskirat Singh Sidhu’s appearance. In the end, he said he made the trip “in case this goes to a plea bargain.”

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“That’s all I wanted to accomplish today … to hopefully see him face to face and, in case this never goes to trial, he’s seen my face.”

Sidhu, 29, was released Tuesday on $1,000 bail. He wore a black polo shirt and track pants and stared sternly ahead, intermittently opening and closing his eyes while standing behind the prisoner’s box glass.

He is facing 16 counts of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing death and 13 counts of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing bodily harm after his semi collided with a bus carrying the Humboldt Broncos hockey team on April 6 north of Tisdale. His next appearance is scheduled for Aug. 21.