A 71-year-old Ottawa driver was seriously injured in a two-vehicle collision involving an OPP vehicle in Lanark County, and Ontario's police watchdog is now investigating.
Here is what has been confirmed so far, and what has not.
What happened on Highway 7
The collision happened shortly before 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 30, on Highway 7 near Townline Road, according to an Oct. 2 media release from Lanark OPP.
Police say an officer was driving a police vehicle to assist with an investigation when it was involved in the collision. The release does not say what that investigation was.
The driver of the other vehicle, the 71-year-old from Ottawa, was taken to hospital with serious injuries. The OPP officer suffered minor injuries.
Why the SIU is involved
OPP say they notified the province's Special Investigations Unit (SIU), which has invoked its mandate to investigate the incident. That is why an ordinary two-vehicle crash is now the subject of an independent review rather than only a routine police report.
The SIU is the watchdog referred to in the OPP's release, and its involvement means the force that employs the officer is not the one examining what happened.
What has not been made public
As a result of the SIU investigation, OPP say they will not be providing further information about the collision. That leaves several questions unanswered in what has been released so far:
- What caused the collision has not been stated.
- The current condition of the Ottawa driver has not been updated beyond "serious injuries."
- The release does not name either driver.
- It does not say whether Highway 7 was closed or how traffic was affected.
We will not guess at any of those. Until the SIU or OPP release more, the account above is the full public record.
What it means for Ottawa readers
The injured driver is an Ottawa resident, which is why this Lanark County crash matters here. For the driver's family and neighbours, the main questions now rest with the SIU, and the OPP have said the force itself will not be adding to its release.
The release was issued Oct. 2, two days after the crash, so anyone who saw or heard about the collision on Wednesday afternoon has only now been able to put an official account next to it. The 71-year-old's name, age aside, and any update on recovery have not been shared.
We will update this story if the SIU or OPP provide further details.
Sources: Lanarkist
