The Ontario Special Investigations Unit (SIU) charged a local police officer on January 20th, 2013 with dangerous driving after a London car crash left two pedestrians injured.
Constable Leah Laari was responding to an emergency call in a southbound direction in Adelaide at about 11 a.m. She approached the Oxford intersection and ran a red light, it is believed that she slowed but did not come to a full stop. The vehicles sirens and emergency lights were operating at the time of the crash.
As Const. Laari was passing the intersection she collided with a Toyota Celica when pedestrians were struck by the vehicle ricocheting off the cruiser. A 23-year-old woman sustained serious, but non-life-threatening, injuries. The passengers of the Celica, the officer, and other pedestrians suffered minor injuries and were treated at a local hospital.
During the SIU investigation it was found that there were ground to charge the officer with a criminal offence in relation to the crash. Const. Laari is schedule to appeal in a London court on February 27th. Until then she has been taken off her regular patrol.