Fridley man charged with criminal vehicular homicide in I-94 Dale St. crash that killed St. Paul driver
Musab Ibrahim Kosar, 22, of Fridley, has been charged with criminal vehicular homicide after his Tesla sped off I‑94, exited at Dale Street with its headlights reportedly turned off, and struck a Toyota RAV4 at Dale and Rondo Avenue in St. Paul, killing 31‑year‑old St. Paul baker Benjamin Michael Villano. A state trooper who followed the Tesla clocked it at 84 mph and later over 100 mph but did not activate lights or sirens before the crash; Kosar and a 19‑year‑old passenger were hospitalized with serious injuries. The passenger, who suffered fractures and a dislocated hip, told investigators she had asked Kosar to stop speeding and that they had broken up earlier that day, and the criminal complaint alleges Kosar’s operation was “grossly negligent.”
📌 Key Facts
- Defendant Musab Ibrahim Kosar, 22, of Fridley, has been charged with criminal vehicular homicide; the charging complaint alleges he operated the vehicle “grossly negligently” and he was hospitalized with injuries.
- The victim was identified as Benjamin Michael Villano, 31, of St. Paul, a professional baker, who died in the crash.
- The crash occurred when a Tesla struck a Toyota RAV4 at the Dale St. exit near Rondo Ave., pushing the RAV4 into a retaining wall.
- A state trooper clocked the Tesla at 84 mph in a 55 mph zone and later at over 100 mph; the complaint says the Tesla’s driver turned off his headlights before exiting at Dale St., and the trooper followed the vehicle but did not activate lights or sirens before the crash.
- Both Kosar and a 19-year-old St. Paul passenger were hospitalized with serious injuries and told investigators they do not remember the crash; the passenger suffered fractures and a dislocated hip.
- The passenger told investigators she had asked Kosar to stop speeding and that the two had broken up earlier the same day; she became very emotional when told the victim died and also said she didn’t believe Kosar was speeding that evening despite earlier asking him to slow down.
📰 Sources (3)
- A state trooper followed the speeding Tesla but did not activate lights or sirens before the crash.
- Both the driver (Kosar) and a 19-year-old passenger were hospitalized with serious injuries and told investigators they do not remember the crash.
- The passenger became very emotional when told the victim died and stated she didn’t believe the driver was speeding that evening (though she had previously told him to stop speeding).
- Defendant identified as Musab Ibrahim Kosar, 22, of Fridley; charged with criminal vehicular homicide
- Victim identified as Benjamin Michael Villano, 31, of St. Paul; professional baker
- State Patrol trooper clocked the Tesla at 84 mph in a 55 and later over 100 mph; driver turned off headlights before exiting at Dale St.
- Crash details: Tesla struck the Toyota RAV4 at Dale St. and Rondo Ave., pushing it into a retaining wall
- Passenger (19, St. Paul) suffered fractures and a dislocated hip; told investigators she asked Kosar to stop speeding and they had broken up earlier that day
- Kosar hospitalized with injuries; complaint alleges 'grossly negligent' operation