News Release
SIU Terminates Investigation into Peterborough Collision Between SUV and Police Van
Case Number: 20-PVI-121
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation into a collision that occurred in May between a police van and an SUV in Peterborough, which resulted in a 64-year-old woman sustaining a serious injury.
On May 23, 2020, an Ontario Provincial Police officer with the Peterborough County detachment was in the eastbound left-turn lane of Lansdowne Street at Television Road when he started into his turn on an advanced green light. At the same time, the driver of an SUV was stopped in the westbound curb lane of Lansdowne Street at Television Road when he pulled into the intersection against a red light and struck the rear passenger side of the officer’s van. The van spun and then rolled over onto the driver’s side. A passenger from the SUV, a 64-year-old woman, was taken to hospital where she was reportedly diagnosed with a fractured sternum.
Director Martino said, “Based on the SIU’s preliminary inquiries to date, it is apparent that there is patently nothing to investigate as far as the potential criminal liability of the officer is concerned in connection with the collision. On the aforementioned-record, it is evident at this time that the officer did nothing to cause or contribute to the collision that could conceivably attract criminal liability. Accordingly, the investigation is hereby discontinued, and the file is closed.”
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