News Release
No Charges to Issue in Relation to Death of Man in Motor Vehicle Collision in Adjala-Tosorontio
Case Number: 21-PVD-100
Other News Releases Related to Case 21-PVD-100
SIU Investigating Fatal Collision in Adjala–Tosorontio Township
The province's Special Investigations Unit has concluded that there are no grounds to lay charges against an Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officer after a man he attempted to stop for speeding lost his life in a motor vehicle collision.
Shortly after midnight on April 3, 2021, the officer was on patrol performing speed enforcement when he detected a pickup truck traveling north on County Road 50 at 120 km/h. The officer decided to stop the vehicle for speeding. The driver of the pickup truck stopped momentarily for the officer on Sideroad 20 before accelerating away westward. The officer did not pursue. The driver went on to lose control of his pickup truck, crashing into the south ditch of Sideroad 20. He was ejected from the vehicle and sustained life-ending injuries in the process.
The director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, concluded that there was no basis for proceeding with criminal charges in this case and the file was closed.
Full Director's report (including description of incident, evidence, and Director's analysis and decision): https://www.siu.on.ca/en/directors_report_details.php?drid=1438
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
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SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES