News Release

SIU Concludes Investigation into Crash in Kitchener

Case Number: 10-OCI-230   

Other News Releases Related to Case 10-OCI-230

SIU Investigating Injuries Received in Crash in Kitchener

Mississauga (6 December, 2010) --- The Director of the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), Ian Scott, has concluded that there are no reasonable grounds to charge an Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officer - Cambridge Detachment with a criminal offence in relation to the injuries sustained by a woman in Kitchener in late October. The SIU assigned four investigators and two forensic investigators to probe the circumstances of this crash.

The SIU investigation determined that OPP officers tried to stop a stolen van on Highway 401, but the driver refused to stop.  The OPP abandoned this action because of weather concerns.  Subsequently, the OPP notified the Waterloo Regional Police Service (WRPS) of the fleeing vehicle.  A number of WRPS officers saw the van, but did not engage into a suspect apprehension pursuit.  The van’s driver continued to drive in a dangerous manner and eventually collided with a vehicle driven by a 63-year-old Waterloo woman.  This woman was taken to hospital where she was treated for a fracture.

Director Scott concluded, “Given the fact that neither officers from the OPP nor the WRPS were involved in a suspect apprehension pursuit, there is no legal connection between the acts of the driver of the van and any actions by the officers. Accordingly, no criminal liability may attach to the officers’ acts with respect to the collision leading to the injury to the complainant.”

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