News Release
SIU Investigates Vehicle Death in Thorold
Case Number: 07-OVD-205
Other News Releases Related to Case 07-OVD-205
The Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) reported to the SIU that at approximately 11:00 p.m. on October 10, 2007, officers observed an SUV that was reported stolen in Thorold. Officers attempted to stop this SUV. They became involved in a pursuit when the SUV, together with another vehicle – a Hummer, drove off.
At the intersection of Barron Rd. and Centre St., the Hummer left the roadway and struck a tree. The driver, a 15-year-old male, was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the SUV fled the scene.
The SIU has assigned seven investigators, three forensic identification technicians and one collision reconstructionist to investigate the nature and extent of police involvement in the events surrounding the collision. The SIU has designated four officers from the NRPS as witness officers and two as subject officers. Interviews are ongoing and a post mortem examination is taking place today.
The SIU is appealing for anyone who witnessed this incident to contact the Unit at 416-622-1886 or 1-800-787-8529 x.1886.
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