News Release

SIU Investigation and Appeal for Witnesses in Elgin County

Case Number: 09-PVI-030   

TORONTO (11 February, 2009) --- The Special Investigations Unit (SIU) is investigating the serious injuries suffered by three people in a collision involving the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) near Chatham on February 10, 2009.

At approximately 8:00 p.m. on February 10, 2009 an OPP officer was following a vehicle with four occupants that had been reported to be driving erratically westbound on Highway 401 near Dutton. The vehicle eventually exited the highway onto Orford Road, followed by the OPP cruiser.

The vehicle left the roadway from Orford Road and rolled into a ditch at the T-intersection at Selton Line. One female and two male occupants of the vehicle were transported by ambulance to hospital with non-life-threatening fractures. The fourth female occupant did not suffer serious injuries.

The SIU has assigned six investigators, including two forensic investigators, to investigate the incident.

SIU investigators are appealing for anyone who witnessed the collision at Orford Road and Selton Line, or anyone who may have seen a vehicle being driven erratically westbound on Highway 401 between Dutton and Orford Road at approximately 8:00 p.m. last night, to contact the Unit immediately at 416-622-2038 or 1-800-787-8529, extension 2038.

The SIU is an independent government agency that investigates the conduct of officials (police officers as well as special constables with the Niagara Parks Commission and peace officers with the Legislative Protective Service) that may have resulted in death, serious injury, sexual assault and/or the discharge of a firearm at a person. All investigations are conducted by SIU investigators who are civilians. Under the Special Investigations Unit Act, the Director of the SIU must

  • consider whether the official has committed a criminal offence in connection with the incident under investigation
  • depending on the evidence, cause a criminal charge to be laid against the official where grounds exist for doing so, or close the file without any charges being laid
  • publicly report the results of its investigations