City of Ottawa loses appeal in drunk-driving crash that killed 3 students

The City of Ottawa has lost an appeal that claimed a judge erred in a decision awarding $2.3 million to two plaintiffs involved in a 2008 crash between an SUV and an OC Transpo bus that left three Carleton University students dead.

• City of Ottawa appeals $2.3M award in fatal drunk-driving crash
• City of Ottawa partially liable in 2008 OC Transpo crash that killed 3 

Vanessa Crawford, Brianne Deschamps and Mark MacDonald were killed on Jan. 23, 2008, when their SUV ran a red light and collided with an OC Transpo bus at the intersection of Heron Road and Riverside Drive.

Two other students in the SUV were injured, while the bus driver and his lone passenger were not seriously hurt.

In a decision rendered Jan. 29, a judge found the OC Transpo driver was partially at fault in the collision, despite the fact that the driver of the SUV was intoxicated.

The City of Ottawa appealed the decision, pointing to "overriding and palpable errors," including what it argued was "a new higher standard for public transit drivers."

On December 20, 2016, the Ontario Court of Appeal dismissed the city's appeal. City solicitor Rick O'Connor wrote in a memo that he did not recommend pursuing an appeal in a higher court.

"As this decision turns largely on questions of fact, it is unlikely to be seen as one that raises the kinds of legal issues of national importance that would attract the attention of the Supreme Court of Canada.  A further appeal to Canada's highest court would, therefore, appear to offer little likelihood of success," the memo said.