News Release
SIU Concludes Investigation into Man’s Death in Bala
Case Number: 24-PVD-414
Other News Releases Related to Case 24-PVD-414
SIU Investigating After Pedestrian Fatally Struck by Police Vehicle in Bala
At about 5:50 a.m. on September 29, 2024, two individuals were leaving the premises of the Bala Bay Inn, 3063 Muskoka District Road 169, Bala. They walked eastward towards Muskoka Road 169, and entered onto the roadway intending to cross it. One of the individuals, a 25-year-old man, was struck by a vehicle. The vehicle was being operated by an Ontario Provincial Police officer, who was on duty and in transit to a temporary northern assignment. The officer immediately stopped the vehicle after the collision and ran to render assistance to the man. Paramedics arrived on scene. The man was transported to hospital and pronounced deceased. On his assessment of the evidence, SIU Director Joseph Martino determined there were no reasonable grounds to believe that the officer committed a criminal offence in connection with the man’s death.
Full Director’s Report (with Incident Narrative, Evidence, and Analysis & Director’s Decision): https://www.siu.on.ca/en/directors_reports.php.
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
Lisez ce communiqué en français.
Kristy Denette, siu.media@ontario.ca
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES