News Release

SIU Concludes Dutton Collision Investigation

Case Number: 07-PVD-125   

Other News Releases Related to Case 07-PVD-125

SIU Investigates Death in Dutton

TORONTO (20 July, 2007) --- The Director of the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), James Cornish, has concluded there are no reasonable grounds to believe that any Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officers committed any criminal offence with regards to a collision that resulted in the death of a 22-year-old man.

The SIU investigation revealed that on June 28, 2007, at approximately 10:00 a.m., OPP officers in two marked cruisers were escorting a large tow truck that was towing a tractor-trailer westbound on the south shoulder of the eastbound lanes of the 401, approximately two kilometers east of the Currie Road exit, Dutton. This towed tractor-trailer had been involved in a collision on Highway 401 earlier that morning.

One marked cruiser, with its lights and sirens activated, was in front of the tow truck, and another cruiser, with its lights activated, was trailing. The tow truck also had its roof lights and four-way flashers activated. The vehicles were moving at a slow rate of speed.

While eastbound traffic was slowing and moving into the left eastbound lane to go around the cruisers and the tow truck, the driver of a tractor-trailer came up behind another tractor-trailer in the eastbound passing lane at a high rate of speed. The first tractor-trailer passed the police convoy and collided into the rear of the second tractor-trailer. The driver of the first tractor-trailer, a 22-year-old Kitchener man, died at the scene.

Based on the available evidence Director Cornish concluded, "The driver of the first tractor-trailer appears to have rear-ended the transport truck directly ahead of him without braking - apparently not noticing the slowing of the traffic or the brake lights ahead of him. This is a tragic accident, but it is one that was not caused by any criminal conduct on the part of any of the police officers involved."

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
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES