News Release
SIU Concludes Investigation into Ingersoll Crash
Case Number: 08-PVI-204
Other News Releases Related to Case 08-PVI-204
SIU Investigates Serious Motor Vehicle Injuries in Ingersoll
On September 26, 2008 an OPP officer responded to a call about a vehicle being driven in an erratic manner. The officer located the car, a Honda, which was stopped at a gas pump at a gas station. The officer approached the car with the intention of talking to the driver. Instead the driver accelerated away.
The officer ran back to his police car, activated the emergency lights and siren, and began to pursue the Honda. The driver of the Honda drove erratically and at high speeds. On Charles Street the driver of the Honda lost control of the vehicle on a right hand bend in the road. The Honda left the roadway and went airborne over an embankment before coming to rest in a field. The occupants in the Honda, Jamie Picard and Martin Rosinski, both sustained serious injuries in the crash. The men were taken to hospital by ambulance for treatment.
Deputy Director of the SIU James Cornish said, "The officer had received information that the driver of the Honda was possibly an impaired driver. The officer identified the Honda at a gas station and approached the driver's side of the car attempting to speak to the driver. The officer was clearly in the lawful execution of his duties as he embarked on a pursuit of the vehicle in an effort to apprehend it and its occupants."
Mr. Cornish added, "The officer had his emergency lights and siren on at all times through the incident warning other motorists in the area of the unfolding pursuit. The officer was also mindful of his speeds throughout and remained a sufficient distance behind the Honda affording its driver ample opportunity to come to a safe stop if he chose to do so. It should also be noted that the pursuit was relatively short in duration and distance, and that traffic, environmental and road conditions did not add to the dangers inherent in any police pursuit. In these circumstances, I am satisfied that the officer exercised a level of care that fell within the limits prescribed by the criminal law."
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