London police officer cleared in fatal Woodfield crash

Ontario Police Watchdog Clears Officer in Fatal Collision

Ontario’s police watchdog has cleared a London officer of any criminal wrongdoing related to a fatal collision on September 10, 2025, at Queens Avenue and William Street, east of downtown London.

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

Details of the Incident

Joseph Martino, director of the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), issued a report on Tuesday stating there were no reasonable grounds to believe the officer committed a criminal offense, specifically dangerous driving.

The officer was on patrol around 3:10 p.m. near Dundas and Colborne streets when he saw a 55-year-old man in the back of a black 2002 Chevrolet Silverado. The officer began following the truck down King Street as it turned onto Maitland Street and then onto Dundas Street.

According to the SIU, the truck driver sped up after noticing he was being followed. The officer activated his lights at Dundas and Maitland streets but turned them off shortly after and continued to follow the truck.

Collision Analysis

The SIU report states that the officer’s cruiser GPS recorded him traveling 82 km/h down Dundas to catch up. The truck accelerated aggressively down William Street. As it approached Queens Avenue, it entered the southbound lane to overtake a vehicle stopped at a red light, broadsiding 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 percent throttle applied and no braking,” the report noted.

The officer arrived at the intersection about 14 seconds after the impact. The entire incident occurred in less than 90 seconds.

Aftermath of the Collision

The crash sent both vehicles onto the grass at the northwest corner, with the VW coming to rest on its roof more than 20 meters from the intersection. The VW’s passenger, a 67-year-old woman, suffered severe injuries and died in the hospital on September 17. The driver, her 69-year-old husband, broke his neck, fractured multiple ribs, and injured his hip.

The 55-year-old man in the truck’s rear bed was ejected and had to be intubated in the hospital due to a collapsed lung and a fractured rib. The driver of the truck fled on foot.

On September 22, police charged a 44-year-old Manitowaning man with multiple counts, including failing to stop at the scene of an accident, dangerous operation, racing a motor vehicle, and driving while suspended.

Conclusion of the SIU Report

In his analysis, Martino stated there was no evidence that the officer showed a “marked departure” from the level of care expected in the circumstances. He concluded that the officer acted with due care and regard for public safety.

Martino also noted that police did not immediately notify the SIU of the collision, which he would address in his reporting letter to Chief Thai Truong and refer to the Law Enforcement Complaints Agency.