Man dead, woman injured in Scarborough crash being investigated by SIU

A man is dead and a woman is seriously injured after a vehicle being investigated by Toronto police officers crashed into another vehicle in Scarborough on Saturday night, according to Ontario’s police watchdog.

The Special Investigations Unit said in a news release on Sunday that it is probing the circumstances surrounding the crash, which occurred in the intersection of Scarborough Golf Club Road and Lawrence Avenue East. Emergency crews were called to the scene at about 7:15 p.m.

The man, 77, a driver of one vehicle, was in critical condition when Toronto paramedics arrived but he died at the scene. The woman, 74, a passenger in his vehicle, suffered serious injuries and was taken to hospital for treatment.

According to the SIU, no one in the vehicle being investigated suffered serious injuries.

The SIU said the incident began at about 7 p.m. when Toronto police officers were investigating a vehicle in a plaza parking lot east of Scarborough Golf Club Road and Lawrence Avenue East.

“During this investigation, the vehicle of interest fled from the plaza and officers followed it.,” the SIU said in the release.

In the intersection, the vehicle struck the vehicle containing the man and the woman. Debris was strewn on the road.

Initially, police said the driver of one of the vehicles fled the scene, but now, police say they will not comment further because the SIU is investigating. Neither the police nor the SIU have said whether or not the driver being investigated has been arrested.

The SIU has assigned five investigators, two forensic investigators and one collision reconstructionist to the case.

The agency investigates events involving the police that have resulted in death, serious injury, or reports of sexual assault.

Anyone who has information about the case is urged to call the lead investigator at 1-800-787-8529. Anyone who may have relevant video evidence is urged to upload it through the SIU website.