Ontario’s SIU investigating death of 24-year-old man involved in single-vehicle collision

One person died in a collision on Bank Street, south of Vernon. Jan. 24, 2026. (Maddison de Varennes/CTV News Ottawa)

Ontario’s police watchdog is investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a 24-year-old man who was involved in a single vehicle collision in Ottawa on Friday night.

The Ontario Special Investigations Unit (SIU) says information suggests Ottawa police responded to reports of a minivan rollover at approximately 11:30 p.m. in the 8700 block of Bank Street near Morningside Avenue, which is approximately 40 kilometres south of downtown Ottawa and near the edge of city limits.

“Officers did not locate anyone in or around the vehicle, and attempts to locate the registered owner were unsuccessful. Subsequently, officers left the scene,” the SIU wrote in a news release.

An Ottawa police officer returned to the scene of the collision on Saturday and located the deceased 24-year-old man beneath snow near the vehicle.

“As Ottawa Police Service officers may have been in and around the area at the time of the man’s death, the SIU was notified and invoked its mandate,” the SIU wrote in a news release.

The SIU investigates police incidents involving serious injury, death, an allegation of sexual assault or the discharge of a firearm by an official at a person.

A post-mortem examination has been scheduled for this week, the SIU says.

Ottawa paramedics say Cornwall SDG Paramedics were dispatched to the scene as they had the nearest ambulance to the collision.

The SIU is asking anyone with information that may be relevant to the investigation to contact them at 1-800-797-8529 or at https://siu.on.ca/en/appeals.php.

Ottawa police are also investigating the collision and are asking anyone who may have witnessed the incident or anyone with relevant dashcam footage to contact them at 613-236-1222 ext: 2345.

Anonymous tips can be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or at crimestoppers.ca.

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