News Release

SIU Closes Investigation into Sarnia Vehicle Deaths

Case Number: 12-PVD-024   

Mississauga (25 January, 2012) --- Based on the Special Investigations Unit’s (SIU) preliminary enquiries into the deaths of two individuals near Sarnia last week, SIU Director Ian Scott has terminated the investigation.  The incident, involving an officer with the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), occurred on January 19, 2012. 

On this date, shortly after 10:00 a.m., there were a series of collisions on Hwy 402 near Sarnia involving multiple vehicles, including a marked OPP cruiser.  As a result of the collisions, Sherri Millar, 22-years-old of Toronto, and Ronald Brown, 54-years-old of Wyoming, were killed.  They were in separate vehicles.

Two investigators, two forensic investigators and one collision reconstructionist from the SIU probed the circumstances surrounding this incident.  The investigation determined that the OPP cruiser was driving eastbound toward the scene of a motor vehicle collision.  The cruiser’s roof lights were activated, and as the cruiser stopped, the officer seemed to be in control of his vehicle.  As soon as the cruiser came to a stationary position, it was struck from behind by a tractor trailer.  Several other collisions followed, which resulted in the deaths of Mr. Brown and Ms. Millar.  There is no evidence that the OPP officer caused or contributed in any way to the collisions which resulted in the fatalities.

Given the Unit’s mandate, which is limited to serious injuries and deaths that may have resulted from criminal offences committed by police officers, there is nothing further to investigate.  Accordingly, the SIU investigation has been terminated.

The OPP investigation into this multi-vehicle collision is continuing.

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