News Release
SIU Concludes Investigation into Fatal Motor Vehicle Collision in Toronto
Case Number: 07-TVD-193
Other News Releases Related to Case 07-TVD-193
Four SIU investigators, three SIU forensic identification technicians (FITs), and one SIU accident reconstructionist were assigned to probe the circumstances surrounding this collision.
The SIU investigators determined that at approximately 12:18 a.m. a Toronto Police Officer was conducting traffic checks on Victoria Park Ave. south of Eglinton Ave. The officer checked the licence plate of an Acura that was southbound on Victoria Park Ave. and determined that the licence plate had been reported as missing, which meant the plate was either lost or stolen. In any event it the plate did not belong on the Acura. The officer activated the emergency lights on her police car to stop the Acura. The driver of the Acura did not stop, but rather sped up to flee from the officer. The driver of the Acura lost control of the car in the area of Holland Avenue, crossed into the northbound lanes, and collided with a vehicle that was northbound on Victoria Park Ave. The driver of the Acura suffered fatal injuries in the collision. The driver of the northbound car was taken to hospital where he was treated and released.
Director Cornish stated, "I am of the view that there are no reasonable grounds to support any criminal charges against the officer that was involved. The evidence indicates that the Acura sped away at a high rate of speed immediately after the officer activated her emergency lights and crashed within seconds after that. There is no indication that the police cruiser came close to the Acura or to its rate of speed."
If you or someone you know has been negatively affected by an incident under SIU investigation and would like support, the Affected Persons Program is here to help. You can reach us at 1-877-641-1897. Support is free, confidential, and available 24/7, every day of the year.
The SIU is an independent government agency that investigates the conduct of officials (municipal, regional and provincial police officers, police officers with the Nishnawbe Aski Police Service, 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