Overview

• On October 29, 2022, Gibson, then 18, inhaled nitrous oxide behind the wheel and lost control of his car in Waterloo, mounting the pavement and killing 79-year-old Edward Hickey.
• Investigators found nitrous oxide canisters and balloons hidden on the vehicle, and CCTV footage showed Gibson buying balloons minutes before the collision.
• A witness reported seeing Gibson holding a yellow balloon and driving far in excess of local speed limits before the crash.
• Hickey’s family described profound grief and lasting fear of roadside hazards following the sudden loss of their patriarch.
• Since its reclassification as a Class C drug in November 2023, police and experts have warned that nitrous oxide’s dissociative effects significantly impair driving ability.