Driver identified and charged in 2024 Beamsville diesel spill

Ontario Provincial Police have identified, arrested and charged a driver in relation to a major diesel spill on the QEW in Beamsville on Jan. 12, 2024.

At the time of the spill, witnesses reported seeing a black Mercedes being driven ‘aggressively.’ The driver appeared to be brake-checking other vehicles, which caused a white SUV to collide with a fuel tanker.

“A black two-door Mercedes was driving aggressively and wasn’t happy with a lane change that a white SUV did,” said Prov. Const. Rob Tihor with the Burlington-Niagara division of the OPP. “He began break checking and maybe a bit of a road rage there.”

The tanker and the SUV ended up in a ditch, where thousands of litres of fuel leaked into the ground following the crash. Of the 50,000 litres of gas and diesel being carried, police said approximately 15,000 litres spilled into the environment.

The collision and cleanup resulted in a lengthy highway closure.

After an extensive investigation and more than a year later, the driver of the black Mercedes has been charged.

As a result of the investigation, Mirkarim Mousavi, 59, of Burlington has been charged with:

• Dangerous operation causing bodily harm
• Failure to stop at accident resulting in bodily harm

OPP told CHCH News that they are calling it a case of road rage.

“This driver could face jail time,” said Tihor. “He could face serious fines, he could face driving penalties, and like I said, serious crimes – serious charges.”

Officials say Mousavi was released from custody and will be required to attend court in St. Catharines on June 9.

READ MORE: ‘Aggressive’ driver sought after fuel truck rollover closed QEW in Beamsville