News Release
SIU completes investigation into crash on Hwy 401 near Lancaster
Case Number: 07-PVI-216
Other News Releases Related to Case 07-PVI-216
SIU Investigates Motor Vehicle Collision on Hwy 401 near Lancaster
The SIU assigned two investigators, one forensic investigator and an accident reconstructionist to probe the circumstances of this collision.
The SIU investigation determined that on Friday, October 26, 2007 an OPP officer wanted to check the driver of a vehicle in a service centre on Highway 401 near Lancaster. The officer directed the driver to stop, but instead the driver fled the area and out onto the highway. The officer pursued the vehicle westbound. Approximately three kilometres from the service centre the driver of the fleeing vehicle attempted to make a U-turn. He lost control and the vehicle rolled over. The driver, 24-year-old Marc Raymond of Quebec, was treated at Cornwall Hospital for non-life threatening injuries.
Director Cornish said, "The officers were about to speak to Mr. Raymond about his driving. Mr. Raymond sped off and the officers engaged in a pursuit. The pursued vehicle sped along Highway 401 and drove erratically. Mr. Raymond lost control and there was a single vehicle collision. Fortunately, Mr. Raymond was not more seriously injured and no one else suffered injury as a result." The Director concluded, "The actions of the officers involved cannot reasonably be viewed as having caused either the driving in question or this collision."
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