News Release

News Release

SIU Investigating Fatal Collision in Lavigne

Case Number: 15-OVD-120   

Mississauga (17 June, 2015) --- Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU) is probing the circumstances surrounding the death of a man last night in Lavigne.

Preliminary information indicates the following:

• At approximately 11:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 16, 2015, West Nipissing Police received a call regarding a Jeep Cherokee being driven by a man. Officers were dispatched to locate the man;
• One officer saw the vehicle and attempted to follow it. He lost sight of the vehicle soon after;
• At approximately 11:45 p.m., an individual called police to report a vehicle had struck a tree at 10570 Hwy 64. It was engulfed in flames;
• The driver of the jeep succumbed to his injuries.

The SIU has assigned four investigators, two forensic investigators and one collision reconstructionist to probe the circumstances of this incident. 

Anyone who may have information regarding this case is asked to contact the lead investigator at 1-800-787-8529 ext. 2150.

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