News Release

News Release

Update: SIU Releases Name of Woman Killed in Vehicle Incident near Parry Sound

Case Number: 12-PVD-100   

Mississauga (10 April, 2012) --- Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU) is probing the circumstances surrounding the death of 38-year-old Liza Marie Charbonneau of Ottawa.  She died after being involved in a motor vehicle collision near Parry Sound on Sunday.   

The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) reported the following information to the SIU:
• At approximately 11:45 p.m. on Sunday, April 8, 2012, OPP officers attempted to stop a vehicle driving southbound on Highway 69, north of Parry Sound;
• OPP officers deployed a spike belt in an attempt to stop the vehicle;
• The vehicle struck two OPP cruisers and left the roadway;
• Ms. Charbonneau was the sole occupant of the vehicle, and was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Four investigators, two forensic investigators and one collision reconstructionist are investigating this incident.  Anyone who may have information regarding this case is asked to contact the lead investigator at 416-622-1935 or 1-800-787-8529 ext. 1935.

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