A Mississauga bus driver has been acquitted of dangerous driving charges following a fatal collision that killed 50‑year‑old Sharron Williams.
On the morning of June 9, 2023, Williams was waiting for a green light on Derry Road as she headed to work. The bus behind her struck her vehicle with no warning, sending her car into the air.
The judge described the incident as a “cruel bolt from the blue,” noting that video footage showed passengers thrown around the bus like rag dolls during the impact.
The collision triggered a chain reaction that injured nine people and left Williams dead shortly after she was pronounced at the hospital.
Driver Baljeet Dhaliwal pleaded not guilty in a judge‑alone trial. The court found no evidence that she was distracted at the time of the crash.
According to the judge, the bus did not slow down or stop; it ploughed into Williams’ car at full speed. Brakes were not applied for several seconds, only after the bus collided with stationary vehicles ahead.
The prosecution argued that driver distraction was the cause, but evidence showed the driver’s hands on the wheel moments before impact.
Investigation revealed a possible brake failure. The bus was not inspected until three weeks after the crash, and during towing the front brakes locked and caught fire, destroying the entire braking system.
The court deemed the post‑accident inspection inadequate and concluded that the true cause of the crash remains unsolved. With reasonable doubt, the driver was found not guilty.
The bus was later destroyed in March 2025, preventing a more thorough examination of the vehicle’s mechanical condition.
