WATCH ABOVE: Seyed Yashar Tolouei denies he was impaired and says it wasn’t his fault. Catherine McDonald has the exclusive story.
A 21-year-old Toronto man charged with impaired driving causing death after a fatal two-vehicle crash in Richmond Hill on Sunday says he is sorry and that he’s not at fault.
The collision happened around 9:30 p.m. at Bayview Avenue and Woodriver Street between a Toyota Camry and a Chevrolet Cruze.
York Regional Police said a 21-year-old female passenger in the Cruze suffered critical injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver suffered serious injuries and was transported to hospital.
Friends and family identified the victim as Julia Baciu, a York University Glendon Campus student.
WATCH: Catherine McDonald speaks with man charged with impaired driving causing death after Richmond Hill crash
The driver of the Camry, who was identified by police as Toronto resident Seyed Yashar Tolouei, was arrested at the scene and taken to hospital with minor injuries. He was released on bail Monday afternoon.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t… it wasn’t even my fault. I’m sorry,” Tolouei told Global News when asked if he had a message for the victim’s family. He commented after leaving flowers at the collision scene.
Tolouei was charged with impaired driving causing death, impaired driving causing bodily harm, dangerous driving causing death, dangerous driving causing bodily harm and refusing to provide a breath sample.
He told Global News he was driving his girlfriend home after visiting a friend. Tolouei said the crash happened as he was driving south on Bayview Avenue when the other vehicle, travelling north, tried to turn west. He said he didn’t find out Baciu died until hours later.
Tolouei was asked about the allegations by investigators. He said he wasn’t impaired and didn’t want to provide a breath sample to officers.
“Because I have nothing to prove,” he said.
When asked about drinking and driving, Tolouei later said, “My mom is standing right there. She didn’t raise a fool.”
WATCH : Woman dead after 2-vehicle crash in Richmond Hill
Tolouei was asked if police got the charges wrong; he said it was “not [his] place to say that.”
“I believe… I believe the police and I believe whatever they come up with, I’ll deal with in court,” he said.
“I’m a straight-A student, my life was on track and I hurt somebody. I don’t—it wasn’t even my fault.”
Meanwhile, officers are appealing for anyone with information to come forward.
Devastating impact at a two car fatal crash on Bayview Av north of Elgin Mills Rd in Richmond Hill. Woman died on scene, another patient transported to trauma centre with serious injuries. Road closed for reconstruction. pic.twitter.com/kPgwGFLlB4
— Jeremy Cohn (@JeremyGlobalTV) August 20, 2018
IMPAIRED DRIVING – Last night a 22-year-old lost her life in a tragic collision in Richmond Hill. A 21-year-old man from Toronto now facing a series of charges including Impaired Driving Cause Death. https://t.co/f265w6bgZm
— York Regional Police (@YRP) August 20, 2018
Source: Global News