News Release

SIU Investigating Serious Injuries Suffered by Man After Snowmobile Crash near Belwood Lake

Case Number: 22-PVI-021   

Mississauga, ON (22 January, 2022) ---
The province’s Special Investigations Unit is investigating the circumstances surrounding the serious injuries suffered by a 21-year-old man early this morning near Belwood Lake in the Township of Centre Wellington.

Preliminary information suggests the following:
  • At approximately 2:40 a.m. on January 22, 2022, Ontario Provincial Police officers from the Wellington Detachment were conducting a R.I.D.E. check in the area of North Broadway Street in Belwood near Fergus.
  • Officers observed a snowmobiler driving erratically. Officers drove on Sideroad 10 and located the snowmobiler. The snowmobile fled.
  • A man and snowmobile were later located in a ditch near Sideroad 10 in West Garafraxa Township. The operator is being treated for serious injuries.
Three investigators and one forensic investigator have been assigned to the case. 

The SIU is urging anyone who may have information about this investigation, including video or photos, to contact the lead investigator at 1-800-787-8529 or online at: https://siu.on.ca/en/appeals.php

If you or someone you know is an affected person in need of support, please call the Affected Persons Program General Referral Line at 1-877-641-1897 or click here for more information: siu.on.ca/en/apc.php

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.

Kristy Denette, siu.media@ontario.ca
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES