News Release
SIU Concludes Cambridge Collision Investigation
Case Number: 04-OVI-128
The SIU investigation determined that at approximately 4:48 p.m., an officer was traveling northbound on Dundas Street to attend a call. While driving across the bridge, the officer lost control of the cruiser, crossed the centreline and collided head-on with a GMC Jimmy that was traveling southbound. Both the officer and the man driving the Jimmy were taken to Cambridge Memorial Hospital. The man was treated for a fractured heel and the officer was reportedly treated for a broken ankle.
The bridge was iced over and slippery at the time of the crash.
Director Cornish concluded the officer lost control on a slippery bridge and that the officer's driving was not criminal in nature.
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