News Release
SIU Concludes Investigation into Burlington Death
Case Number: 05-PVD-018
Other News Releases Related to Case 05-PVD-018
Mr. Payette died on February 16, 2005, after he was struck by a car in the eastbound lanes of the Queen Elizabeth Highway (QEW) at the Guelph Line, in Burlington.
Six SIU investigators were assigned to probe the circumstances surrounding Mr. Payette's death. As part of the investigation, investigators interviewed 28 police and civilian witnesses. Forensic identification technicians videotaped, measured and prepared scene drawings where Mr. Payette was killed. His medical records were also received and reviewed.
The SIU investigation revealed that at approximately 7:19 p.m., an OPP officer responded from the Burlington detachment to reports of a man walking along the shoulder of the westbound lanes of the QEW at the Guelph Line. A number of motorists had also seen Mr. Payettte, who appeared confused, running across the highway.
At approximately 7:29 p.m., the officer arrived in a fully marked cruiser and pulled over onto the south shoulder of the QEW lanes, about twenty feet behind Mr. Payette. The police communications recordings show that at 7:30 p.m., the officer reported the man was trying to run into traffic and requested assistance. The officer exited his cruiser and about 25 seconds later, the officer transmitted that the pedestrian had been hit. Mr. Payette had run across the highway and was struck and killed by a van.
Director Cornish stated, "It was only seconds after the officer arrived at the scene, and indeed before he even had a chance to converse with Mr. Payette, let alone touch him, that Mr. Payette bolted across the busy highway and was struck by an unsuspecting motorist."
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