Man charged after video shows passenger grabbing driver’s wheel

Warning: The video attached to this article contains language that some readers might find offensive.

A man is facing charges stemming from an incident captured in a now-viral video showing a passenger grabbing a rideshare driver’s steering wheel in a perceived attempt to cause an accident in Whitby.

The rideshare driver’s dashcam video was obtained and shared on X by 6ixBuzz TV on Thursday.

It captures the accused, who was sitting in the front seat, grabbing the steering wheel and forcing a collision into the tractor-trailer. There were also passengers in the back seat at the time.

The Uber driver’s vehicle crashes into the side of the truck. Once the car comes to a stop, the accused quickly exits the Uber, and the tractor-trailer drives off.

No injuries were reported.

OPP tells The Leader Spirit that the incident happened at 5 p.m. on Wednesday on Hwy. 412 near Taunton Road in Whitby. The male passenger seen in the video was arrested and charged with dangerous driving, mischief endangering life and damage to property.

The accused remains in custody pending a bail hearing in Oshawa. An OPP spokesperson said authorities are investigating the man’s motives, as it’s unclear why he tried to force a collision in a rideshare vehicle.

Whitby OPP is carrying out the ongoing investigation.