The province's police watchdog has cleared a London police officer who hit a Western University student with his cruiser.
The female student was one of three people walking outside of a crosswalk on Richmond St., south of Piccadilly St. shortly after midnight on April 4, 2016 when she was hit by a police cruiser. The woman suffered a fractured upper arm, a severed nerve, and a concussion in the incident.
The cruiser was traveling approximately 15-20 km/h at the time.
SIU Director Tony Loparco announced on Thursday the evidence in the case does not provide reasonable grounds for the laying of criminal charges.
Loparco's report showed three investigators and one forensic investigator used video footage from a taxi and a nearby pub and witness interviews to determine that it was dark and snowy when the crash happened. They also found the woman, who had just gotten out of a cab, was jaywalking across the street. The officer, it was noted, was driving below the 50 km/h speed limit at the time of the collision.
"I cannot find fault with the SO [subject officer] or his driving," said Loparco. "It is clear that the claimant stepped out into traffic in poor weather and lighting conditions where there was no crosswalk and no traffic controls."
The SIU conducts criminal investigations into incidents involving police and civilians that have resulted in serious injury, death, or allegations of sexual assault.
