Ontario’s police watchdog is investigating after a fatal collision in Peterborough on Friday night (January 28) in which two men died.
According to the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), at around 9:36 p.m. on Friday, a Peterborough police officer was driving east on Lansdowne Street en route to a call. While en route, the officer saw the driver of another vehicle go through a red light at Park Street.
The officer turned around and activated their emergency lights to pursue the vehicle travelling westbound on Lansdowne. After losing sight of the vehicle, the officer discontinued the pursuit and resumed travel to the initial call.
Later, the driver of the vehicle that fled was involved in a collision with another vehicle at Lansdowne Street and Webber Avenue. A witness reported seeing a vehicle on its roof with car parts strewn over a large area.
The two male occupants of the fleeing vehicle, aged 38 and 41 years old, were found dead at the scene. Two women in the vehicle that was struck by the fleeing vehicle were taken to hospital and diagnosed with no injuries.
Lansdowne Street between The Parkway and Clonsilla Avenue was closed for several hours following the collision for a police investigation.
The SIU has assigned four investigators and two forensic investigators to the case, with one subject official currently designated, and is urging anyone who may have information about this investigation, including video or photos, to contact the lead investigator at 1-800-787-8529 or online at siu.on.ca/en/appeals.php.
The SIU is a civilian law enforcement agency, independent of the police, that conducts criminal investigations into circumstances involving police and civilians that have resulted in serious injury, death or allegations of sexual assault.
