News Release
Update: SIU Continues Investigation into Sturgeon Falls Collision Death
Case Number: 09-PVD-301
Other News Releases Related to Case 09-PVD-301
SIU Investigates Sturgeon Falls Collision Death
SIU Concludes Investigation into Sturgeon Falls Vehicle Deaths
The SIU was notified that at approximately 9:00 p.m., OPP officers were conducting a RIDE spot check on Highway 17, east of Highway 11 and south of North Bay. A vehicle with two males was pulled over, and one of the males was arrested. However, the other male, 23-year-old Ghislain Michel Joseph Gareau of Verner, fled the scene in the vehicle, and the OPP followed. The vehicle was going westbound on Highway 17, just east of Sturgeon Falls, when it collided with an eastbound vehicle being driven by 20-year-old Angele Mary Penasse of Sturgeon Falls. Both Mr. Gareau and Ms. Penasse were pronounced dead at the scene. Autopsies were performed today.
The SIU has assigned four investigators and three forensic investigators to probe the circumstances of this incident. The SIU is appealing for anyone who witnessed this incident to contact the Unit at 416-622-1957 or 1-800-787-8529.
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