By Advertiser staff
MISSISSAUGA – The province’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU) has terminated an investigation into a February crash in Mapleton, finding a Wellington County OPP officer did not cause or contribute to the collision.
On Feb. 25 at about 11:20pm an OPP officer observed a “vehicle of interest” travelling along Highway 86.
“Without activating the OPP vehicle’s emergency lighting, the officer began to follow the Mazda,” states a press release from the SIU.
At the intersection of Highway 86 and Sideroad 15, southwest of Conestogo Lake, the Mazda slowed down, “resulting in the police cruiser hitting it from behind,” states the SIU.
The Mazda turned onto Sideroad 15 and the officer activated his emergency lights, “but he was immediately ordered by the communications centre to discontinue any efforts to stop the vehicle.”
A short time later, according to the SIU, the driver of the Mazda “lost control of the vehicle, travelled onto the north ditch, rolled and struck a utility pole.”
The male driver, aged 25, fled on foot but was later arrested and transported to a local hospital, where he was diagnosed with a concussion.
SIU interim director Joseph Martino found that “the officer had terminated his pursuit of the vehicle several minutes and about four kilometres before the man lost control and smashed into a hydro pole, resulting in the concussion that was subsequently diagnosed at hospital.”
Martino concluded, “it cannot be said that the officer caused or contributed to the collision in any fashion that might attract criminal liability … the investigation is hereby discontinued and the file closed.”
