News Release
SIU Concludes Investigation into Fatal Ottawa Collision
Case Number: 05-OVD-152
Other News Releases Related to Case 05-OVD-152
On September 17, 2005, an OPS officer was driving a prisoner in a marked cruiser when it became involved in a collision with a taxicab with two female passengers. Ms. Sylvestre was one of two passengers in the cab and suffered fatal injuries.
Six SIU investigators arrived at the scene to start the investigation into the circumstances of the collision. Evidentiary items from the scene were retrieved and analyzed, the scene was documented and the involved vehicles were forensically examined. The surrounding area was canvassed for witnesses and a total of nine interviews were conducted. Police reports and communications tapes were also reviewed.
The SIU investigation found that an OPS officer arrested a man in the area of Uplands and Riverside Drives in Ottawa and placed him in the rear of a police cruiser. The officer left for the police station at 3:30 a.m., traveling northbound on Riverside Drive. The cruiser's emergency equipment was not activated.
At about 3:37 a.m., the officer entered the intersection of Riverside and Heron. While in the intersection, the cruiser and a taxicab traveling eastbound on Heron Road, came into collision with each other. The taxicab driver and Ms. Sylvestre were ejected from the cab. Ms. Sylvestre died at the scene. The cab driver and the other passenger were taken to hospital where they were treated for their injuries. The officer and his prisoner suffered minor injuries.
Based upon the totality of all the evidence, Director Cornish concluded the officer's driving fell well within the limits prescribed by the criminal law and is not criminally responsible for this tragic death.
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