News Release
SIU Concludes Investigation into Woman’s Injuries in Niagara Crash
Case Number: 22-PVI-149
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has found no reasonable grounds to believe that an Ontario Provincial Police officer committed a criminal offence in connection with the serious injuries suffered by a 24-year-old woman in a crash following a brief pursuit in Niagara Falls.
On June 6, 2022, the officer attempted to stop the driver of a Lexus for speeding on Queen Elizabeth Way. There was a brief pursuit and the driver continued to flee. The driver crashed on the Thorold Stone Road off-ramp and left the roadway into a field. The driver exited the vehicle and fled the scene.
First responders were dispatched to the scene, located the two female passengers, and transported them to hospital. One of the women suffered multiple rib and spine fractures, and a broken right arm.
Director Martino found no reasonable grounds to believe that the officer transgressed the limits of care prescribed by the criminal law, leaving no basis for proceeding with charges in this case.
Full Director’s Report (with Incident Narrative, Evidence, and Analysis & Director’s Decision): https://siu.on.ca/en/directors_report_details.php?drid=2147
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