News Release

News Release

SIU Concludes Investigation into Fatal Essex County Collision Involving OPP Cruiser

Case Number: 25-PVD-439   

Other News Releases Related to Case 25-PVD-439

SIU Investigating Woman’s Death After Collision Involving OPP Cruiser in Essex County

Mississauga, ON (2 March, 2026) ---
On the morning of November 2, 2025, an OPP officer was travelling west on County Road 20 East en route to the OPP detachment in Essex. A distance east of Iler Road, a woman moved out onto the westbound lane from the northside ditch. The officer steered his cruiser to the right but was unable to avoid contact. The front of his vehicle struck the woman. The officer exited his cruiser and began to administer emergency first-aid. Additional officers arrived on scene, as did paramedics. The 19-year-old woman was transported to hospital where she was 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 woman’s death.

Full Director’s Report (with Incident Narrative, Evidence, and Analysis & Director’s Decision): https://www.siu.on.ca/en/directors_reports.php.

If you or someone you know has been negatively affected by an incident under SIU investigation and would like support, the Affected Persons Program is here to help. You can reach us at 1-877-641-1897. Support is free, confidential, and available 24/7, every day of the year.

The SIU is an independent government agency that investigates the conduct of officials (municipal, regional and provincial police officers, police officers with the Nishnawbe Aski Police Service, 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.

Monica Hudon, siu.media@ontario.ca
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES