News Release

News Release

SIU Concludes Investigation into Police-Involved Collision that Injured Elderly Woman in Sarnia

Case Number: 24-OVI-359   

Other News Releases Related to Case 24-OVI-359

SIU Appealing for Witnesses to Collison in Sarnia Between Police Vehicle and Civilian Vehicle

Mississauga, ON (23 December, 2024) ---
The Special Investigations Unit found no reasonable grounds to believe a Sarnia Police Service officer committed a criminal offence in connection with a collision that resulted in the serious injury of an 80-year-old woman. On August 26, 2024, the police officer struck the vehicle that the woman was driving as she entered the intersection of Indian Road North and Exmouth Street.

Director Joseph Martino found the woman entered the intersection on a green light and was travelling at a reasonable speed, but it was unclear why the woman did not see the officer. The officer approached the intersection with his emergency lights and siren on, came to a virtual stop at the intersection before entering, and had confirmed that most (if not all) of the traffic in the vicinity had yielded before he accelerated forward. On this record, Director Martino found the indiscretion fell short of amounting to a marked departure from a reasonable standard of care in the circumstances.

Full Director’s Report (with Incident Narrative, Evidence, and Analysis & Director’s Decision):

The SIU is an independent government agency that investigates the conduct of officials (municipal, regional and provincial police officers, police officers with the Nishnawbe Aski Police Service, 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