A Mississauga MiWay bus driver has been acquitted of dangerous driving causing death in connection with a 2023 crash that claimed the life of a 50-year-old woman and injured eight others.
Justice David Harris ruled that the prosecution failed to eliminate reasonable doubt, finding there was insufficient evidence to rule out a possible brake malfunction as the cause of the collision. He said the exact cause of the crash remains unresolved.
The crash occurred in June 2023 when the bus struck the rear of a vehicle stopped at a red light at the intersection of Derry Road and Rexwood Road. The impact pushed the victim’s car into several other vehicles.
During the trial, the defence argued the driver repeatedly attempted to brake before the crash and pointed to a 911 call in which she reported the brakes had failed and said she used the hand brake to stop the bus. The defence also cited concerns over vehicle data, a fire that damaged the bus while it was being towed, and the bus being decommissioned before an independent forensic examination could be completed.
Prosecutors maintained the driver was distracted and inattentive, alleging she had fallen behind schedule and misjudged traffic conditions before the collision.
Following the verdict, the victim’s family expressed disappointment, saying the destruction of the bus left key questions unanswered. The City of Mississauga also voiced its disappointment but said the vehicle had been retained for investigators before being retired in February 2025 after authorities completed their examination. The city added that an independent inspection found no mechanical defects that would have contributed to the crash.