News Release
No Charges to Issue in Relation to Fatal Collison in Toronto that Followed Brief Police Pursuit
Case Number: 21-TVD-002
Other News Releases Related to Case 21-TVD-002
SIU Investigating Multi-Vehicle Collision in Toronto
Update: Woman Involved in January 1st Multi-Vehicle Collision in Toronto Succumbs to Injuries
On January 1, 2021, a Toronto Police Service officer briefly pursued a Mercedes Benz that had been traveling at a high rate of speed. Shortly after the officer terminated the pursuit, the Mercedes Benz became involved in a collision with other vehicles in the intersection of Keele Street and Sheppard Avenue West. The 23-year-old male driver of the Mercedes-Benz was taken to hospital, as was the 67-year-old female driver of another vehicle involved in the collision. The woman passed away on January 30, 2021 while still in hospital, the result of a traumatic brain injury incurred in the collision. The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has determined there are no reasonable grounds to believe that the officer committed a criminal offence in connection with the collision.
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