Executive Summary
- Musab Kosar, 22, has been charged with one count of criminal vehicular homicide in the death of 31-year-old Benjamin Villano.
- The charges allege Kosar was driving a Tesla over 100 mph while fleeing a Minnesota State Patrol trooper in St. Paul.
- The fatal collision occurred at an intersection after the driver allegedly turned off his vehicle’s lights during the pursuit.
- Kosar and a passenger were injured; both claimed to have no memory of the crash, and Kosar remains hospitalized.
A 22-year-old man faces a criminal vehicular homicide charge after allegedly causing a fatal crash in St. Paul, Minnesota, while fleeing from state troopers at speeds exceeding 100 mph. The collision, which occurred early Wednesday morning, resulted in the death of 31-year-old Benjamin Villano.
According to charging documents filed by the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office, Musab Kosar was charged Thursday in connection with the incident. The events began shortly before 2 a.m. when a Minnesota State Patrol trooper attempted to stop a Tesla Model 3, allegedly driven by Kosar, for traveling 84 mph in a 55 mph zone on Interstate 94.
The criminal complaint alleges that instead of stopping, Kosar accelerated to 100 mph and turned off the vehicle’s headlights as he took the Dale Street exit. Moments later, the trooper lost sight of the car before observing smoke and sparks from the intersection of Dale Street and Concordia Avenue.
Investigators arrived at the intersection to find the Tesla had crashed into a Toyota RAV4 driven by Villano, who was pronounced dead at the scene by first responders. Police found Kosar and a 19-year-old female passenger in the Tesla, both with injuries. The complaint states both individuals claimed they had no memory of the accident.
Officials have confirmed that Kosar remains hospitalized. It is important to note that all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.