The Smiths Falls Police Service says Ontario’s police watchdog has invoked its mandate following a collision early Wednesday morning. It happened at around 4:24 a.m. on Queen Street near Albert Street. According to police, an officer had attempted to stop the driver a short time before the crash. The driver was transported to hospital following the collision. “The Special Investigations Unit (SIU) has invoked its mandate in relation to this incident. As required by law, no further information can be provided by the Smiths Falls Police Service at this time,” the Smiths Falls Police Service said in a news release. In a statement, the SIU said an officer “observed a motorbike of interest” Wednesday morning in the area of Chambers Street and Elmsley Street, prior to the crash. “The officer told the rider to pull over. However, the rider fled the scene at a high rate of speed. The officer followed the motorbike for a short time. A short distance away, the motorbike became involved in a single vehicle collision in the area of Queen Street and Albert Street. The man was arrested. He was transported to hospital for treatment of serious injuries.” The SIU is an independent government agency that investigates the conduct of police that may have resulted in death, serious injury, sexual assault and/or the discharge of a firearm at a person.
