News Release
No Charges to Issue in Relation to Highway 417 Collision near Arnprior that Resulted in the Deaths of Two People
Case Number: 19-OVD-161
Other News Releases Related to Case 19-OVD-161
On July 7, 2019, an Ottawa Police Service officer spotted a vehicle of interest, a Honda Civic, and proceeded to engage in a police pursuit on the 417 Highway in the Ottawa area. Shortly thereafter, the Civic crashed head-on into two motor vehicles, killing the 62-year-old female driver of one and seriously injuring the driver and passenger of another. The 36-year-old male driver of the Civic also died as a result of injuries sustained in the collision. The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has determined there are no reasonable grounds to believe that the pursuing officer either caused or contributed to the collision in question, or otherwise drove dangerously in violation of the Criminal Code.
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