News Release

News Release

SIU Seeking Witnesses After Driver Flees Barrie Officers, Hits Pole

Case Number: 23-OVI-002   

Other News Releases Related to Case 23-OVI-002

SIU Concludes Investigation into Barrie Collision that Resulted in Injuries to Four People

Mississauga, ON (2 January, 2023) ---
The province’s Special Investigations Unit is seeking any witnesses or dashcam footage of a silver car fleeing Barrie Police Service officers before it crashed into a hydro pole and seriously injured four people last night.

Preliminary information suggests the following:
  • At approximately 8:30 p.m., officers on patrol in a marked SUV spotted the driver of the silver car speeding on Yonge Street at Mapleview Drive East. The car fled northbound on Yonge Street before it crashed into a cement pole at Yonge Street north of Big Bay Point Road. 
  • Paramedics were called and all four people in the car were taken to hospital.
Three investigators and two forensic investigators have been assigned to the case. One subject official and two witness officials have been designated at this time.

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