News Release

SIU Continues Vaughan Collision Investigation

Case Number: 11-OCD-002   

Mississauga (10 January, 2011) --- Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU) is continuing its probe into the death of a Richmond Hill woman on Friday evening in Vaughan.  The SIU has assigned six investigators, two forensic investigators and a traffic reconstructionist.

The SIU investigation thus far has determined that at 7:05 p.m. Friday January 7, 2011 a York Regional Police (YRP) officer attempted to stop a vehicle on Bathurst Street.  The vehicle did not stop, but instead accelerated away.  The vehicle left the roadway and struck a pole at Bathurst Street and Centre Street.  The 23-year-old driver, Maria Christina Valvis Rocha sustained fatal injuries.

At present the SIU has designated one officer as a subject officer and three officers as witness officers.

Anyone who may have information regarding this case is asked to contact the Unit at 416-622-1957 or 1-800-787-8529 extension #1957.

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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