News Release

News Release

SIU Appeals for Witnesses to Vehicle Injuries Sustained on Highway 401 near Cobourg

Case Number: 12-PVI-061   

Mississauga (23 February, 2012) --- Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU) is appealing for witnesses to the injuries sustained by a 31-year-old man on Highway 401 East yesterday.

At approximately 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 22, 2012, officers with the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Northumberland detachment began following a white Chevrolet Cavalier eastbound on Hwy 401, east of Cobourg.  After approximately 30 kilometres, the vehicle lost control and crashed into the centre concrete median just east of the Lake Road overpass in the Township of Cramahe.

The driver was taken to Trenton Memorial Hospital for treatment of shoulder and spinal injuries.

Three investigators, two forensic investigators and one collision reconstructionist from the SIU are probing the incident.  One subject officer and two witness officers with the OPP have been designated.  Anyone who may have information or who may have witnessed the incident is asked to call the lead investigator at 1-888-820-2695.

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