An Ottawa man facing four charges of dangerous driving causing death and criminal Negligence causing death in relation to a two-vehicle crash on the Gardiner Expressway last week has been released on bail.
Twenty-three-year-old Abdibared Bishar Mussa left the courthouse at 2201 Finch Avenue on Wednesday after the Crown consented to Mussa’s release on $3,000 bail. As part of Mussa’s release, he is not allowed to be in the front seat of any vehicle.
Toronto police said the collision happened around 3:30 a.m. on March 21 in the westbound lanes between South Kingsway and Islington Avenue.
READ MORE: 4 injured, 1 critically after 2-vehicle crash on westbound Gardiner Expressway
Global News has learned Mussa was behind the wheel of his 2012 Hyundai Sonata, which he was operating as an Uber, and was transporting a young couple to Toronto Pearson International Airport.
Police said Mussa was east of Royal York Road when he was attempting to re-enter the highway of the shoulder at the time of the crash.
A police source told Global News that Mussa had pulled off into the shoulder of the highway and stopped because his cellphone, which was mounted on the dash, had fallen. After picking up his phone and remounting it on the dash, Mussa pulled out into live traffic instead of slowly accelerating in the shoulder before merging into traffic.
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A male passenger in the back seat of the Hyundai suffered life-threatening injuries in the crash and died in hospital the following day. Three other people were injured.
Global News has learned the man who died was 28-year-old Nicholas Cameron. His girlfriend who was also a passenger in the Uber at the time and said the couple, who had been dating since October, were going to the airport in order to board a flight to Mexico before the two planned to return to Florida for her father’s wedding. She described Cameron “a great guy who cared so much and who didn’t deserve this.”
Cameron worked as a web developer for a company called BrainStation. Jason Field, the company’s CEO, said in a written statement to Global News that employees were “deeply saddened” after learning of Cameron’s death.
“Nicholas was a valuable member of our team here at BrainStation as a part-time web development instructor and continuously made contributions to his community through teaching and mentoring at the Ladies Learning Code,” he said.
Cameron was also the youngest child of the late Bill Cameron, a former Global News and CBC broadcaster.
Uber spokesperson Kayla Whaling said the ride-sharing company is co-operating with officers.
“Our hearts are with those grieving for the loss of their loved one following this horrible tragedy. We will support the police investigation in every way possible,” she said.
Anyone with information about the crash is asked to contact police at 416-808-1900 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-8477.
— With files from David Shum
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