News Release
No Grounds to Proceed with Charges in Relation to Death of Motorcyclist in Richmond Hill
Case Number: 18-POD-270
Other News Releases Related to Case 18-POD-270
SIU Investigating Motorcyclist’s Death on Highway 407 in Richmond Hill
In the evening of September 9, 2018, OPP officers were dispatched to the northwest corner of the Highways 407 and 404 interchange following reports of a motorcycle in a ditch. Officers searched for the motorcycle’s operator and any evidence of a collision, but nothing was found. The officers left the scene. Later that night, a motorist reporting a person lying on the shoulder of the northbound ramp from eastbound Highway 407 to Highway 404, under the Highway 407 overpass. Officers responded to the scene and, with the help of an off-duty firefighter, rendered emergency first aid to the man. The man – later determined to be the operator of the motorcycle – was transported to hospital where he was pronounced dead. The Interim Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has determined there are no reasonable grounds to lay criminal charges in relation to this case.
Full Director’s Report (with Incident Narrative, Evidence, and Analysis & Director’s Decision):https://www.siu.on.ca/en/directors_reports.php.
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