Man killed in Burlington crash with alleged drunk driver identified

Ryan Powless, 29, has been identified as the man killed in a crash involving an alleged drunk driver on Highway 403 near Waterdown Road in Burlington on Saturday morning.

CJ Bourassa, one of Powless’ best friends, was worried when he saw that a Nissan had been struck by a Ford f150 pickup truck. He knew Powless had the same car but was assured by friends that many people drive the same vehicle.

When he got a call from a female that worked with Powless, she asked if he was sitting down.

“I knew at that point,” said Bourassa.

Police said the Ford was driving west in the eastbound lanes of the highway when it collided with the Nissan at around 3:30 a.m.

Powless was pronounced dead at the scene and a 20-year-old female passenger in his vehicle was taken to hospital with serious, but non-life-threatening injuries.

The Ford driver, Ricardo Cabral, 35, was treated in hospital for minor injuries before being released. The Brampton man has been charged with seven offences, including impaired driving, dangerous driving, having a blood-alcohol level over 80 milligrams and marijuana possession. He’s been released from custody on an undertaking, police say.

The highway was closed for six hours on Saturday as police investigated. It was one of several collisions involving an alleged drunk driver this holiday Victoria Day weekend and is part of a disturbing increase in impaired driving arrests.

“As of 10 a.m. this morning there have been over 30 charges in the OPP Toronto area only, of drinking and driving charges,” said Sgt. Dean Korn. “That’s a spike of 20 per cent from last year at the exact same time.”

Korn said that traditionally, these collisions occur in the night but that isn’t the case anymore.

“We are seeing now that it’s 24 hours a day,” he said. “It doesn’t have to be a specific time period.”

OPP reported last week that impaired driving in Toronto has gone up to 60 per cent in a month.

Korn said that the message Police and Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) have been putting out to not drive under the influence is being ignored.

“I don’t think you can measure the impact of that type of thing…experience the knock at the door of the police standing there at whatever hour of the day to tell you that your life has changed forever,” he said.

Powless had moved to Hamilton three years ago to work as a bylaw officer for the City of Hamilton.

Kelly Barnett, coordinator of operation support with the City of Hamilton, said that what she will remember most about Powless was him walking down the hall and always stopping to say hi, having a smile on his face.

“He had a passion for our city,” said Barnett.

Michael Kirkopoulos, Director of Corporate Communications, City of Hamilton released a statement saying, “This is an incredibly tragic and sad incident. Our thoughts, prayers and deepest sympathies go out to Ryan’s family, friends, colleagues and loved ones.”

The memorial for Powless will be held on Friday and Saturday in Brampton.

“He brought the best out of people,” said Bourassa.

“He will always be one of my brothers.”