News Release
SIU Discontinues Investigation into Collision Between Huron County OPP Cruiser and Snowmobiles
Case Number: 25-PVI-066
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation into a February collision north of Wingham that led to two females suffering serious injuries.
On February 17, 2025, the OPP - Huron Detachment received notification that the South Bruce Detachment had closed the southbound lanes of London Road due to whiteout conditions. An officer was dispatched to assess the road conditions from the south end of London Road/Highway 4 and confirm that closure signs were in place. While pulled over with his emergency equipment activated, to aid an immobilized vehicle in a ditch, a snowplow struck the rear of the cruiser pushing the cruiser forward into two individuals who were beside their snowmobiles. Two females, aged 46-years-old and 17-years-old were transported to hospital and diagnosed with several fractures and associated dislocations.
Based on the SIU’s preliminary inquiries, Director Martino was satisfied the investigation should be discontinued at this time. 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 two individuals. Accordingly, there being patently nothing to investigate as far as the potential criminal liability of the police was concerned, the file has been closed.
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