The Ontario Provincial Police says Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit is investigating a two-vehicle collision involving a police vehicle on Highway 7 in Lanark County.
The crash happened shortly before 2 p.m. on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, near Townline Road in the Municipality of Mississippi Mills.
The driver of the other vehicle, a 71-year-old resident of Ottawa, was taken to hospital with serious injuries.
The OPP officer involved in the collision suffered minor injuries.
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Ontario Provincial Police: What happened on Highway 7
The Lanark County OPP officer was responding in a police vehicle to assist with an investigation when the cruiser was involved in a collision with another vehicle.
Authorities have not released details about the circumstances leading up to the crash, including the direction of travel, the manner of the collision or whether any traffic charges have been laid.
The OPP notified the Special Investigations Unit after the civilian driver was seriously injured.
Because the SIU has assumed the investigation, the OPP said it cannot provide further information about the incident.
Why the SIU is investigating
The Special Investigations Unit is Ontario’s independent civilian agency for investigating police-related incidents involving death, serious injury, allegations of sexual assault or the discharge of a firearm at a person.
Its investigations are separate from the police service involved in an incident.
The SIU gathers evidence and determines whether there are reasonable grounds to believe a police official committed a criminal offence.
If the director reaches that conclusion, criminal charges may be laid and the case would proceed through the court system.
An SIU investigation does not mean that an officer has been charged or that wrongdoing has been established.
What happens next
The SIU may interview witnesses, examine the vehicles and collision scene, review available video and assess medical information related to the injuries.
Investigators can also reconstruct the collision to help determine how the vehicles moved before and during the impact.
The agency has not announced whether it is seeking witnesses, photographs or video from the public in this case.
Any future decision about charges will come from the SIU, rather than the OPP.
The investigation remains active, and further details may be released when investigators determine that doing so will not affect their work.
What is known so far
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Date | September 30, 2026 |
| Location | Highway 7 near Townline Road, Mississippi Mills |
| Police service | Lanark County detachment of the OPP |
| Civilian driver | 71-year-old Ottawa resident, seriously injured |
| OPP officer | Minor injuries reported |
| Investigating agency | Special Investigations Unit |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the SIU investigating in Lanark County?
The SIU is investigating a two-vehicle collision on Highway 7 near Townline Road involving an OPP vehicle and a 71-year-old Ottawa driver who suffered serious injuries.
When did the crash involving the OPP vehicle happen?
The collision happened shortly before 2 p.m. on September 30, 2026.
How badly was the OPP officer injured?
The OPP officer suffered minor injuries, while the driver of the other vehicle was taken to hospital with serious injuries.
Why was the SIU called to investigate?
The SIU investigates police-related incidents involving serious injury, death, allegations of sexual assault or the discharge of a firearm at a person.
Have charges been laid against the OPP officer?
No charges have been announced, and the investigation remains ongoing.
Fact-Checked: The reported date, location, injuries and police involvement were checked against available OPP-related information and the Special Investigations Unit’s official mandate.
Disclaimer: Details may change as the Special Investigations Unit investigation progresses and further information is released.