Ontario’s police watchdog says two Durham police officers have been charged in relation to a fatal multi-vehicle collision that happened on April 29, 2024.
Sgt. Richard Flynn and Const. Brandon Hamilton have been charged with three counts each of criminal negligence causing death and two counts each of criminal negligence causing bodily harm, the SIU said in a release Friday.
Both officers are required to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in Oshawa on Feb. 13.
Experts are questioning the police’s decision to pursue an alleged robbery suspect who drove the wrong way down Canada’s busiest highway, resulting in a deadly crash.
The SIU says it is not providing further comment on the investigation as the matter is before the courts.
Durham Regional Police Chief Peter Moreira is expected to make a statement at 4:30 p.m.
The charges stem from a fatal collision in which police officers pursued a liquor store robbery suspect driving the wrong way on Highway 401.
Two grandparents, visiting from India, and their infant grandchild were among the four people killed.
The 21-year-old driver of the cargo van police were pursuing also died in the collision. The passenger of the van, Manpreet Gill, was not charged in connection with the deaths, but pleaded guilty to three separate charges last month, including theft under $5,000.
More to come.
