Police watchdog clears London police officer in fatal Woodfield crash

Ontario's police watchdog has cleared a London officer of any criminal wrongdoing in connection with a fatal collision in late September at Queens Avenue and William Street, east of the city's downtown core.

A 67-year-old woman was fatally injured in the Sept. 10, 2025 crash, when her SUV was broadsided by a pickup truck at the intersection. The woman's husband and a passenger of the truck were both seriously hurt.

In his report, issued on Tuesday, Joseph Martino, director of the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), said there were no reasonable grounds to believe the officer committed a criminal offence in relation to the crash, namely dangerous driving.

According to the agency, the officer had been on patrol around 3:10 p.m. near Dundas and Colborne streets when he observed a 55-year-old man riding in the back of a black 2002 Chevrolet Silverado.

The officer began tailing the truck down King Street, following it as it turned north onto Maitland Street, and east onto Dundas Street, according to the report. The SIU says the truck driver sped up after becoming aware he was being followed.

In their own report to the SIU, police said the officer activated his lights at Dundas and Maitland streets, but turned them off moments later and kept following. Police said the truck sped up and turned north onto William Street.

At one point, the cruiser's GPS clocked the officer travelling 82 km/h down Dundas to catch up, the SIU report said.

According to the SIU, the northbound truck accelerated aggressively down William. As it approached Queens Avenue, it went into the southbound lane to overtake a vehicle stopped at a red light, entered the intersection, and broadsided a westbound 2024 Volkswagen Taos.

"Pre-crash Crash Data Recorder (CDR) data indicated the Chevrolet accelerated from 56 km/h to 80 km/h in the five seconds before impact, with 100 per cent throttle applied and no braking," the report said.

The officer arrived at the intersection about 14 seconds after impact. In total, the entire incident took place over the course of less than 90 seconds, according to the report.

The impact of the crash sent both vehicles hurtling onto the grass at the northwest corner, with the VW coming to rest on its roof more than 20 metres from the intersection.

The VW's passenger, a 67-year-old woman, suffered severe injuries in the collision and died in hospital seven days later on Sept. 17. The driver of the VW, the woman's 69-year-old husband, broke his neck in the crash, fractured multiple ribs, and injured his hip.

The 55-year-old man riding unsecured in the rear bed of the truck was ejected in the crash and had to be intubated in hospital, suffering a collapsed lung and a fractured rib, the SIU said.

The driver of the truck fled on foot. On Sept. 22, police announced a 44-year-old Manitowaning man had been charged with multiple counts, including failing to stop at the scene of an accident, dangerous operation, racing a motor vehicle, and driving while suspended.