Five youths charged following collision near Cambridge OnRoute

The logo of the Ontario Special Investigations Unit is pictured in Toronto on Friday, April 12, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Arlyn McAdorey

Five youths are facing charges following a collision near Cambridge.

Ontario Provincial Police said officers responded around 8:50 p.m. on Friday to reports of a stolen vehicle at the Cambridge OnRoute along Highway 401.

Police said the vehicle fled the area before becoming involved in a collision with a passenger vehicle on the highway.

The Special Investigations Unit (SIU) invoked its mandate following the incident.

“Officers deployed a spike belt at the OnRoute exit to stop the suspect vehicle,” an SIU spokesperson said in an email to CTV News Sunday evening. “The suspected stolen vehicle swerved to avoid the spike belt, crossed the grassy median and entered the westbound lanes of Highway 401, where it collided with another vehicle. Three occupants from the westbound vehicle were transported to hospital for assessment. One of the individuals, a 37-year-old woman, was diagnosed with serious injuries.”

According to the SIU, no one from the suspect vehicle suffered serious injuries.

As a result of the investigation, 16-year-old from Hamilton has been charged with:

• possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000
• operation causing bodily harm
• failure to stop after accident
• flight from peace officer
• Class G1 licence holder unaccompanied by a qualified driver (three counts)
• disobey sign
• fail to signal stop

Four additional 16-year-olds from Hamilton, Dundas and Mississauga have each been charged with possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000.

Under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, the identities of the accused cannot be released.