News Release
SIU Terminates Investigation into Fatal Pickering Collision
Case Number: 18-PVD-344
Other News Releases Related to Case 18-PVD-344
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Tony Loparco, has terminated an investigation into a vehicle collision last month that resulted in the death of a 22-year-old man and serious injuries to a 36-year-old man.
On the morning of December 1, 2018, an Ontario Provincial Police officer was conducting speed enforcement on eastbound Highway 407, west of Brock Road, in Pickering. The officer observed a vehicle travelling eastbound on Highway 407 at a high rate of speed and began to follow it, but soon after pulled over after being directed to do so by the Provincial Communications Centre. A short time later, as the officer continued southbound on Brock Road, he came across the vehicle which had been involved in a collision with a Purolator courier truck. The driver of the vehicle which was being investigated was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the Purolator suffered serious injuries and was taken to Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre for treatment.
Director Loparco said, “The officer who was investigating the vehicle never engaged in a pursuit. In fact, at the time of the collision, the officer was parked approximately two kilometres away and was in contact with the Provincial Communications Centre. The officer did not arrive at the collision until almost five minutes after the collision occurred. Accordingly, I have terminated the investigation into this incident.”
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