SIU finds no wrongdoing in relation to pursuit, Napanee collision

The Special Investigations Unit (SIU) has come to a conclusion on an investigation into a pursuit prior to a collision in Napanee earlier this year.

The incident took place on the night of Sunday, Apr. 5 to the morning of Monday, Apr. 6, 2020. That night, an Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officer conducting routine speed enforcement on Highway 401, west of Beechwood Road in Napanee, clocked an approaching vehicle, a Jeep Compass, travelling at 176 km/h.

According to SIU, the officer began to pursue the vehicle in order to stop it, but the driver refused to stop. Instead, the driver continued to speed eastbound for a short period of time before losing control of the vehicle as she attempted to negotiate the exit curve at the Palace Road off ramp. The vehicle crashed into the ditch. Two passengers in the vehicle – a 27-year-old woman and a 31-year-old man – were seriously injured as a result.

On Monday, Apr. 6, 2020, the SIU announced it had invoked its mandate and began to investigate the incident. Today, Thursday, Oct. 29, 2020, the SIU announced Director Joseph Martino has determined that the officer in question conducted himself within the limits of the law as he pursued the Jeep Compass that night. As such, SIU has found no grounds for proceeding with criminal charges in the case, and the file is closed. The complete Director’s Report on this matter can be viewed here.