News Release
SIU Concludes Collision Investigation in Lennox and Addington
Case Number: 06-PVI-039
Other News Releases Related to Case 06-PVI-039
On that date, OPP officers were pursuing a van on Highway 41 when the driver of the van lost control and struck a rock cut near the town of Erinsville. The female passenger in the van was taken to hospital where she was treated for internal injuries and multiple fractures. The teen driver was uninjured.
Three SIU investigators and a forensic identification technician were assigned to probe the circumstances of the police pursuit. The SIU investigation revealed that at about 2:30 a.m., an OPP officer noticed a van at a gasoline service station in Napanee and determined it had been reported stolen. The officer followed it onto Centre Street and activated the cruiser's emergency equipment. The officer notified the communications centre that he was in pursuit of the van and a second officer who was nearby, joined the pursuit. The police followed the van northbound on Highway 41 through the town of Erinsville.
At the intersection of Keegans Road and Highway 41, an officer laid a spike belt on the road. The van ran over the spike belt, deflating the front tires. About 12km later, the driver lost control on a curve in the road and struck a rock cut.
Director Cornish concluded the driving of the involved officers fell well within the limits prescribed by the criminal law. He stated, "The officers were pursuing a vehicle, they had their emergency warning devices activated and they monitored traffic and road conditions. I believe that it was in spite of the officers' efforts rather than because of them that this collision occurred."
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