Update: No charges laid – Kingston Police locate alleged driver in fatal hit-and-run
UPDATE (Thursday,Mar. 25 & Friday, Mar. 26, 2021)
Police find driver not at fault following fatal hit-and-run
Kingston Police have cleared the driver involved in a fatal hit and run on Days Road of any wrongdoing, according to a press release on Thursday, Mar. 25, 2021.
The fatal collision took place one week earlier on the evening of Thursday, Mar. 18 and resulted in the death of a 67-year-old pedestrian. Since then, a “thorough and extensive” investigation was conducted involving the East Region Coroner’s Office, and the Kingston Police Patrol Division, Traffic Safety Unit collision reconstructionists, Forensic Identification officers, and the Criminal Investigation Unit, according to Kingston Police.
“The driver of the vehicle has cooperated fully with the investigation and Kingston Police have concluded that they were not negligent in this tragic incident, and, as a result, no Criminal Code or Highway Traffic Act offences were committed” Kingston Police said in a statement. “No charges will be laid.”
After much speculation and outcry from the public regarding this decision, Kingstonist spoke with Kingston Police again on Friday, Mar. 26, 2021 to get more information on why the driver involved was not charged.
“The driver’s explanation is both feasible and reasonable,” Kingston Police Media Relations Officer Const. Ash Gutheinz said, noting that the investigation was thorough and police are satisfied with the conclusion of this case.
“The driver thought that they had struck a small, inanimate object, and they were completely cooperative with police during the entirety of the investigation.”
Kingston Police once again thanked the public for their assistance in the investigation by providing information after the incident. The identity of the deceased individual is not being released to respect the privacy and wishes of her family.
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Kingston Police say they have located the alleged driver and vehicle involved in a fatal hit-and-run on Thursday evening.
“Kingston Police wish to thank the public for all of their assistance and tips following a fatal motor vehicle collision involving a female pedestrian which occurred on the evening of Mar. 18, 2021 on Days Road in the area of Hyde Street in the City of Kingston’s west end,” said Kingston Police Media Relations Officer Ash Gutheinz in a press release. The victim, a 67-year-old female pedestrian, succumbed to her injuries at the scene. Her identity has not been released to the public.
Kingston Police released information to the media on Friday, Mar. 19, 2021, revealing that they had obtained information about the vehicle that was involved in the motor vehicle collision, and that their investigation had revealed that the suspect vehicle was likely to be a Nissan Rogue with a model year of 2007-2015.
On the evening of March 19, 2021, following an extensive investigation, police located a person they believe to be the driver, and the Nissan Rogue they believe to have been involved in the collision. The suspect’s identity has not been released to the public. “The investigation is ongoing at this time and police, once again, would like to express their thanks to the community for the overwhelming number of tips and information that was provided following the incident,” said Gutheinz.