OC Transpo driver pleads guilty in July 2023 bus crash that killed pedestrian in Ottawa’s east end

Emergency crews on the scene of a collision involving a pedestrian and a bus at the intersection of St. Laurent Boulevard and Tremblay Road at approximately 11 a.m. on Thursday, July 20, 2023. (Ian Urbach/CTV News Ottawa)

An OC Transpo bus driver has been sentenced to two years of probation after pleading guilty to charges in a crash that killed a pedestrian in Ottawa’s east end two years ago.

Abdullahi Ahmed Ali pleaded guilty to a charge of careless driving causing death under the Highway Traffic Act last week. Ali also received a $4,500 fine, 100 hours of community service and an 18-month driving suspension during sentencing on April 15.

• Pedestrian killed in collision involving OC Transpo bus in Ottawa’s east end

A 26-year-old woman died after being struck by an OC Transpo bus at the intersection of Tremblay Road and St. Laurent Boulevard on July 20, 2023. Ali was driving an articulated bus at the time of the crash.

According to the agreed statement of facts, the victim had the right of way when she was struck by an articulated bus that was turning left from Tremblay Road to St. Laurent Boulevard. She was halfway across the crosswalk when she was struck.

The document says Ali told police at the scene that he did not see any vehicles or pedestrians when the light turned green for east-west traffic and began to complete the turn. It notes the bus “has a number of blind spots.”

“It is agreed that Abdullahi Ali did not completely ensure that that blind spot was cleared of pedestrians before proceeding to make his left hand turn and thus he did not see (the pedestrian),” the agreed statement of facts said.

“In entering the intersection of St. Laurent Boulevard and Tremblay Road in this fashion and striking the victim thereby causing her death, Abdullahi Ali operated the OC Transpo articulated bus without due care and attention.”

Ali pleaded guilty at the start of a scheduled four-day trial.

The OC Transpo bus was an R1 replacement bus, which was running during the closure of the O-Train Line 1.