News Release
SIU Terminates Investigation into Woman’s Injury in Collision Fleeing OPP in Lakeshore
Case Number: 25-PVI-287
Other News Releases Related to Case 25-PVI-287
The Deputy Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Stacey O’Brien, has terminated an investigation into a vertebrae fracture suffered by a 51-year-old woman after she fled a traffic stop by an Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officer and was involved in a collision last month.
Based on the SIU’s preliminary inquiries, on July 22, 2025, an Essex County OPP officer attempted to stop the driver on County Road 8 for speeding and a licence plate infraction.
She fled and the pursuit was discontinued. The woman later lost control of the vehicle and drove into a ditch in front of a home in the area of County Road 8 and County Road 31 in Lakeshore. She fled on foot and hid in a wheat field. She was located and transported to hospital, where she was diagnosed with a compression fracture of the lower back. On this record, it was readily apparent that the officer did nothing that could conceivably attract criminal liability in connection with the injuries of the woman.
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.
Monica Hudon, siu.media@ontario.ca
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES