A West Vancouver father is due in provincial court for sentencing after pleading guilty to dangerous driving.
In August 2014, 50-year-old Andrew Alan Hromyk crashed his Mercedes along Marine Drive with two young children, including the son of a high profile Vancouverite, in the back seat.
He was originally charged with impaired and dangerous driving causing bodily harm but plead guilty to the lesser charge of dangerous driving.
The collision happened in West Vancouver on the 3100 block of Marine Drive. Hroymuk was driving a black Mercedes when he collided with a red Audi Syder R8.
Bassam Moubarak, the driver of the Audi, was also in court today.
“I looked in my rear view mirror and … I saw the car coming was completely out of control. And then, before I realized, I had tried to brace myself because I saw the car was about to hit me,” he said. “And then it just struck.”
Two young children were in the back passenger seat of the Mercedes, as well as another adult male passenger.
A police report identified the individuals involved in the collision. One was Hromyk’s son.
Global News has confirmed the other child is the son of Kyle Washington, executive chair of Seaspan Corp, a shipyard company that has secured multi-billion dollar contracts with the federal government. Washington is also the son of American billionaire Dennis Washington.
Hromyk and his family have also made charitable contributions in the past.
In court today, a witness said he could hear the children screaming. The Crown suggested that the male passenger in the Mercedes had taken the children away from the scene. A doctor who lives in the area tried to run after them to see if they were okay, but never found them.
“He’s been a dangerous driver for a long time,” said Bob Rorison, spokesperson for MADD Metro Vancouver. “He’s got many dangerous driving convictions. He’s got also several 24-hour suspensions, so what do I think? I think he shouldn’t be driving.”
As an aggravating circumstance, the Crown tried to prove that Hromyk tossed bottles out of his car before police arrive. One witness testified seeing bottles being thrown. Another witness, who failed to show up in court, earlier told police that the driver was throwing “bottle caps” into the woods. Because of the discrepancy, the judge ruled against the Crown’s argument.
The driver of the Audi is disappointed about the ruling
“It’s disappointing,” said Moubarak. “I mean people don’t just grab into a car and throw things after an accident unless they’re trying to hide something. What that is? Is it bottles? Is it something else? I can’t tell you.”
The sentencing hearing has been adjourned. Both sides will argue whether or not Hromyk tried to flee the scene.
Correction:A spokesperson from MADD stated Andrew Hromyk has had many dangerous driving convictions which was not correct. Andrew Hromyk has been ticketed 24 times for speeding , but has no previous dangerous driving convictions prior to his plea agreement on this dangerous driving charge. We regret any confusion caused by that comment. His next court date in scheduled for November 29th.
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