Ontario's police watchdog has determined there are no grounds on which to charge any Waterloo Regional police officers in connection with a crash that claimed the life of a London teen.
Taryn Hewitt, 16, died on October 5, 2017 when the stolen car she was riding in collided with a transport truck on Highway 6 as it was being pursued by Waterloo Regional Police Service officers. The driver of the car, 15-year-old Nathan Wehrle of Cambridge, was also killed. The Special Investigations Unit was called in to investigate the circumstances of the collision and the officers' roles in it.
According to the final report from SIU Director Tony Loparco, the incident began on King Street East in Cambridge. Police were called after a witness reported seeing what they thought was a violent assault and attempted abduction of a young woman by a young man. However, analysis of surveillance video appeared to show that Hewitt was trying to get into the car, while Wehrle tried to keep her out if it. The witness also reported seeing Hewitt get struck in the head several times. The stolen Pontiac then drove away from the scene, with the witness following it. A Waterloo Regional police cruiser then began following the car with its lights and sirens activated.
More cruisers joined the first cruiser in following the Pontiac. One of the officers told the dispatcher that he could see Hewitt and she had a distressed look on her face that he believed indicated a need for police assistance. After following the Pontiac through several city streets before it went onto Highway 6. According to the SIU, the Pontiac reached speeds of more than 130 kilometres per hour before it went out of control and crossed the centre line into the path of an oncoming tractor trailer. The truck struck the passenger side of the car. Both Hewitt and Wehrle were pronounced dead at the scene.
During the SIU probe, investigators set out to determine whether or not the driving conduct of the officers rose to the level of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing death or criminal negligence causing death. Loparco also considered the pursuit was justified, given the report of a possible abduction of a young woman.
"It is my conclusion, based on a review of all the evidence, that the driving of both SO (subject officer) #1 and SO (subject officer)#2 does not rise to the level of driving required to constitute “a marked departure from the norm” and, even less so, “a marked and substantial departure from the standard of a reasonable driver in circumstances” where the accused “showed a reckless disregard for the lives and safety of others,” Loparco said in his report. "I am unable to establish that there was a causal connection between the actions of both subject officers and the catastrophic collision that caused the tragic deaths of both Complainant #1 (Wehrle) and Complainant #2 (Hewitt). The police decision to begin the pursuit was initially as a result of a reasonable belief that the driver of the vehicle had committed a violent assault and was involved in the continuing abduction of a frightened young woman. They were never given any information throughout the pursuit that could have changed that belief."
Because of that, Loparco found no basis to hold either officer responsible for the deaths of Hewitt and Wehrle.
The full SIU report can be read here.
