News Release
an Solely Responsible for Motorcycle Collision; SIU Discontinues Welland Investigation
Case Number: 21-PVI-267
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation into a motorcycle collision that occurred on August 19, 2021, in Welland. As a result of the collision, the 31-year-old motorcyclist suffered a serious injury. Prior to the collision, an Ontario Provincial Police officer with the Niagara Highway Safety division had been investigating the motorcycle.
On this date, the man was operating a motorcycle southward on Highway 406 in Welland when he came to the attention of an OPP officer who was on patrol in the area. As the motorcycle did not have a licence plate, the officer decided to stop the vehicle for a possible traffic infraction. The officer activated his emergency equipment and accelerated to catch up to the motorcycle. When the man continued to accelerate to avoid apprehension, the officer pulled over and stopped. Shortly thereafter, about 400 metres north of the East Main Street Roundabout that marks the end of the highway, the man lost control of the motorcycle and crashed into the guardrail. He suffered a fractured sternum in the collision.
Based on the SIU’s preliminary inquiries, Director Martino concluded that it was inconceivable that the officer contributed to the man’s injury in any fashion that could attract criminal liability. The man alone was responsible for the collision. Accordingly, the file has been 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
Lisez ce communiqué en français.
Monica Hudon, siu.media@ontario.ca
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES