MISSISSAUGA, Ont. — The province’s police watchdog says there are no reasonable grounds to charge a York regional police officer with any criminal offence in the death of a 22-year-old man in April.
The Special Investigations Unit says the man died after his speeding motorcycle went through a red light an collided with an SUV in a Markham intersection.
Police were pursuing the motorcycle — which had been weaving though traffic in a 70 km/h zone at speeds approaching 140 km/h — and had believed the rider had pulled over.
However, the motorcyclist then sped into the intersection against a red light, struck the SUV, and received fatal injuries when he was ejected.
A collision reconstructionist “conservatively” estimated the speed of the motorcycle at the point of impact as 97 km/h and said there was no evidence of contact with the officer’s cruiser.
SIU director Ian Scott says the officer had the lawful authority to attempt to stop the motorcyclist and did not pursue the bike after it accelerated away from him.
The SIU is an arm’s-length agency that investigates reports involving police where there has been death, serious injury or allegations of sexual assault.