Taxi driver dies after being crushed between vehicles

Distracted driving may have caused death Police are investigating the death of a taxi driver

A taxi driver died Sunday after he was crushed between two vehicles on Montreal's south shore.

The collision happened around 8 p.m. on Marie-Victorin Blvd., in Brossard, after the driver had stepped out of his minivan to unload a passenger's luggage.

Const. Melanie Mercille from Longueuil Police said, "the man parked his van and went to get something in his trunk when he was hit by a vehicle."

When police arrived the driver, a 59-year-old man, was lying on the ground. He was rushed to hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Youssef Lebbar runs Allo Taxi, where the deceased worked.

"He was liked by everyone, in the office and our clients," said Lebbar, who added that the man's family is in shock.

Police said the driver of the car that hit the minivan was not under the influence of alcohol or drugs but may have using a cellphone.

"We are asking the judge for warrants to take the information of the cell phone," said Const. Mercille.If the second driver was using a cell phone he could face charges of criminal negligence causing death.

Officers are also tracking down and interviewing witnesses to the deadly collision.

With reporting from Cosmo Santamaria, Caroline Van Vlaardingen, and Matt Grillo