SIU probing fatal crash in Elizabethtown-Kitley

JASPER – The province’s police watchdog is probing a crash after a driver, involved in a police chase, died after being ejected from his vehicle.

The Ontario Special Investigations Unit says an O.P.P. officer attempted to stop a speeding vehicle he met on County Road 17 around 8:30 p.m. Thursday.

During the pursuit, the vehicle turned off on Kitley Line 2 where the driver lost control and crashed into a stand of trees.

Leeds County O.P.P. say the crash scene is roughly 300 meters (984 feet) from Rice Road.

The 18-year-old driver was ejected from the vehicle.

He was being taken by paramedics to hospital in Perth and Smiths Falls but died on his way to the hospital, O.P.P. said.

He identity has not been released.

There are conflicting reports as to how many people were in the vehicle. A release from Leeds County O.P.P., which is authorized by the SIU, says the 18-year-old was the lone male driver. However, the SIU says there was a 16-year-old passenger in the vehicle, who was not injured.

The Special Investigations Unit is involved anytime there is a civilian injury or death involving police.