TORONTO

A cab driver has been charged with second-degree murder after a skateboarder was run down Monday.

Ralph Bissonnette, 28, of Toronto, was riding a skateboard along King St. E., near Jarvis St., when he was hit by a grey taxi around 6 p.m. He was taken to hospital with “very serious” injuries but was pronounced dead.

“It’s possible (this was a case of road rage),” Sgt. Mario Teixeira said Monday around 9:30 p.m.

“It’s contingent on what witnesses saw … (Road rage) is definitely an angle we’re considering.”

On Tuesday morning police announced a second-degree murder charge had been laid against the driver, Adib Ibrahim, 43, of Toronto.

Passerby Gary Moore, 58, said Monday the TTC driver of a streetcar he was about to get on to appeared visibly shaken after the incident.

“He (said he) witnessed the cab driver veer purposely onto the curb,” Moore said. “(The skateboarder) cut him off or something. He was enraged and was screaming at the guy.”

One witness said he remembered seeing the skateboarder riding on the sidewalk.

“About 15 minutes later, I went back and saw police closed off the intersection,” he said.

A skateboard broken in two pieces lay next to the curb, which was covered with blood. A black backpack believed to belong to the victim was also seen on the sidewalk.

Another man said he is sure the victim was killed and had to look away from the grisly scene.

“I knew right away he was dead. His face was indented into the curb, part of his head was just missing. It was disgusting,” said Filip Dujic, 18, who arrived at the scene a few minutes later.

Traffic on King St. E. between Jarvis St. and George St. was closed off for hours as Traffic Services and forensics investigated.

According to municipal licensing and standards records, Ibrahim has been an ambassador taxicab owner/operator for 10 years.

Ibrahim's plate was issued to him on May 3, 2002.

Ambassador taxicab plates, unlike regular cab plates, come with the condition that only the cab owner can be the vehicle operator.

The City of Toronto is currently reviewing the way the taxicab system is regulated.

— With files from Don Peat