News Release
No Basis to Proceed with Charges in Relation to Welland Fatal Collision Involving Motorcycle
Case Number: 19-OVD-196
Other News Releases Related to Case 19-OVD-196
On August 16, 2019, a Niagara Regional Police Service officer was driving his cruiser in Welland when he observed a motorcycle being operated at a high rate of speed. With the intention of stopping the motorcycle, the officer turned on his emergency lighting system and made a U-turn to follow. However, for safety purposes, the officer immediately turned off his emergency lights and abandoned any possible vehicular pursuit before it had even started. A short time later, the motorcycle became involved in a collision with another vehicle. The 25-year-old motorcycle rider was pronounced dead at the scene. The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has determined there is no basis to proceed with criminal charges in this case and the file is closed.
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