Ontario Provincial Police Block

The Special Investigation Unit (SIU) has invoked its mandate to investigate a head-on crash between an Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) cruiser and another vehicle.

Provincial police shut down Highway 35 from Somerville 3rd Concession to Glenarm Road in Fenelon Falls shortly before 3 p.m.

Police say three people including the officer were taken to a local hospital.

In the late afternoon, the SIU took the reins of the investigation from the OPP.

Motorists are to expect delays if travelling through the area, and plan alternate routes when possible.

https://www.ctvnews.ca/barrie/article/s ... ses-roads/

The Special Investigations Unit has invoked its mandate following a three-vehicle collision involving an Ontario Provincial Police cruiser in Kawartha Lakes that sent an officer and two others to the hospital.

OPP said the collision occurred on Highway 35 near Royal Cedar Road in Fenelon Falls shortly after 2 p.m.

There is no immediate word on the severity of the injuries sustained by the officer and the other two victims.

Images from Chopper 24 show an OPP cruiser and a white SUV with extensive front-end damage.

Sara Johnston, the chief of Kawartha Lakes Paramedic Services, told CP24 earlier that seven people were transported to a local hospital.

The cause of the collision is unknown. OPP said they will not be providing further information as the SIU is now investigating.

The SIU did confirm that it had been notified about the incident, but it has not released any details at this time.

The SIU is called whenever the actions of police result in death, serious injury, sexual assault, and/or the discharge of a firearm at a person.

The highway was closed for several hours for the investigation.

https://www.ctvnews.ca/toronto/article/ ... stigating/

By John Marchesan
Posted August 14, 2026 7:29 pm. Last Updated August 14, 2026 10:33 pm.

The province’s police watchdog has been called in to investigate after a multi-vehicle crash in Kawartha Lakes sent eight people to hospital, including a police officer.

The Special Investigations Unit (SIU) says just after 3 p.m. on August 14, an Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officer was traveling southbound on Highway 35 in the vicinity of Somerville 3rd Concession and Royal Cedar Road when a collision occurred involving two other vehicles, a Honda CR-V which was going south on the same highway and a Hyundai Pallisade that was traveling north.

The SIU says the police officer, a 23-year-old woman from the CR-V and six people from the Hyundai – an 82-year-old male driver, a 76-year-old female passenger, a 72-year-old female passenger, a 45-year-old female passenger, a 48-year-old male passenger, and male youth – were all transported to the hospital.

The extent of their injuries was not immediately known.

The circumstances surrounding the crash are now being investigated by the SIU.

The SIU is an independent government agency that investigates the conduct of police officials that may have resulted in death, serious injury, sexual assault and/or the discharge of a firearm at a person.

https://toronto.citynews.ca/2026/08/14/ ... tha-lakes/

Total of 8 people, including OPP officer, taken to hospital for treatment, police watchdog says

The province's police watchdog is investigating a three-vehicle crash involving a police cruiser in Kawartha Lakes, Ont., Friday afternoon.

In a news release Friday, the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) said an Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officer was travelling south on Highway 35 shortly after 3 p.m. when it became involved in a collision with two other vehicles.

The collision took place in the area of Somerville 3rd Concession, according to the SIU.

The police watchdog said the cruiser collided with a Honda CRV travelling south on Highway 35 and a Hyundai Palisade travelling north on Highway 35.

A total of eight people were taken to hospital for treatment, including the police officer and a 23-year-old woman driving the Honda CRV, the SIU said in Friday's release. The driver of the Hyundai Palisade, an 82-year-old man, and five passengers — a 76-year-old woman, a 72-year-old woman, a 45-year-old woman, a 48-year-old man and a boy — were also taken to hospital.

In a post to social media platform X Friday afternoon, the OPP said Highway 35 was closed from Somerville 3rd Concession to Mason Lane in Fenelon Falls, Ont., due to a collision. In an update, provincial police said Highway 35 was closed from Somerville 3rd Concession to Glenarm Road.

Shortly after 1 a.m., the OPP said the road had reopened.

In a news release Friday evening, provincial police confirmed the SIU had invoked its mandate after a collision involving a police vehicle on Highway 35, near Royal Cedar Road.

Three people, including an officer, sustained injuries and were transported to hospital, according to the OPP.

The SIU investigates incidents involving police and civilians that have resulted in serious injury, death or allegations of sexual assault.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ ... -9.7308528

A police officer was among those taken to hospital following the Friday afternoon collision north of Fenelon Falls. The extent of their injuries is unknown.

Ontario’s police watchdog is investigating a crash involving an OPP cruiser north of Fenelon Falls that sent eight people, including an officer and three seniors, to hospital Friday afternoon.

The OPP’s Kawartha Lakes detachment responded to reports of a three-vehicle collision on Hwy. 35 near Royal Cedar Road in Somerville Township, the provincial police service said in a statement.

The OPP notified the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) which then invoked its mandate to launch an investigation into the collision, OPP Central Region spokesperson Joe Brisebois said.

An OPP officer was driving southbound on Hwy. 35, near Somerville 3rd Concession, shortly after 3 p.m. when they were involved in a crash with two other vehicles — a Honda CRV going southbound on the highway and a Hyundai Palisade driving northbound, the SIU wrote in a news release.

The officer, the 23-year-old woman driving the Honda and six people in the Hyundai — an 82-year-old male driver, three women aged 76, 72 and 45, a 48-year-old man and a boy — were all taken to hospital, the SIU said.

The extent of their injuries is unknown. Police said they were unable to provide further details due to the SIU investigation.

Four SIU investigators, two forensic investigators and one collision reconstructionist have been assigned to the case. The SIU, which investigates all cases of serious injury, death and sexual assault involving police officers in the province, is asking anyone with information to call 1-800-787-8529 or to reach out online.

https://www.thestar.com/news/ontario/si ... 305bc.html

A police cruiser was involved in a crash on Hwy. 35 near Somerville 3rd Concession Friday, according to investigators.

Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit is investigating the circumstances behind a collision in Kawartha Lakes involving three vehicles, including an Ontario Provincial Police cruiser on Friday afternoon.

According to preliminary information provided by the SIU, an OPP officer was travelling southbound on Highway 35 near Somerville 3rd Concession around 3:10 p.m., when it was involved in a collision with two vehicles: a Honda CR-V travelling southbound and a Hyundai Palisade travelling northbound.

Eight individuals were taken to hospital for treatment:

- one officer who was in the police cruiser
- a 23-year-old woman who was the driver of the Honda CR-V
- an 82-year-old man who was driving the Hyundai Palisade; three women aged 76, 72 and 45; a 48-year-old man and another young man who were passengers.

Four investigators, two forensic investigators and one collision reconstructionist have been assigned to the case.

Anyone with information on the incident, including photos or video, can contact the lead investigator at 1-800-787-8529 or online at siu.on.ca/en/appeals.php.

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