Fatal Pursuit on Highway 401 Claims Lives of 4, Including Infant
Four individuals, including an infant, lost their lives in a tragic accident on Highway 401 in Whitby, Ont., following a report of a robbery at an LCBO store in Clarington.
The province’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU) stated that the initial report came in around 7:50 p.m. on April 29 from an off-duty police officer.
According to SIU spokesperson Monica Hudon, “It was an off-duty officer at the LCBO who witnessed the robbery and alerted the Durham Regional Police Service, leading to investigators being dispatched to the scene.”
Ms. Hudon explained, “Officers tracked down a suspicious cargo van involved in the incident, which eventually led to a tragic turn of events on Highway 401, where the cargo van was traveling in the wrong direction and caused a multiple-vehicle crash.”
The crash resulted in the death of the infant and their grandparents, aged 55 and 60, who were all in the same vehicle. Additionally, one person from the cargo van also lost their life, while another individual sustained serious injuries and was taken to the hospital.
Related Stories
Ontario Premier Doug Ford expressed his sorrow over the incident, stating, “The loss of lives in this tragic event, from a grandparent to an infant, due to a liquor store robbery leading to such devastation, is heart-wrenching.”
Ms. Hudon mentioned that the crash happened approximately 20 minutes after the initial robbery report, sparking a debate on social media about whether the pursuit should have been halted.
She assured, “All aspects of the pursuit will be thoroughly examined during the investigation, including the timing, location, and policies surrounding the chase.”
Durham Regional Police Service released a statement on their website, acknowledging the impact of the incident on the community and their team’s cooperation with the SIU investigation.
The SIU has assigned a team of investigators to delve deeper into the circumstances surrounding the crash, following its mandate to probe serious incidents involving law enforcement.
Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit, established in 1990, operates independently to oversee investigations surrounding police-related matters and can press charges if necessary.
Highway 401 remained closed for several hours to facilitate the work of law enforcement and emergency responders post-accident.
