Peel officer struck by police cruiser was on duty at the time, SIU says
A Peel Regional Police officer who was seriously injured after being struck by a police cruiser Sunday morning was on pay duty at the time of the collision, according to the province's police watchdog.
The Special Investigations Unit says just before 10 a.m. the officer was on assignment at the intersection of Mississauga Road and Barbertown Road near Eglinton Avenue West. Around the same time, police received a report about a break-and-enter and cruisers set out northbound on Mississauga Road to respond to the call.
One of those cruisers struck the officer working at the intersection, who was then rushed to hospital with serious injuries, the SIU said in a release.
Speaking to reporters on Sunday afternoon, SIU spokesperson Jason Gennaro said forensic investigators were collecting evidence from the scene and canvassing neighbours in the area.
He wouldn't say how many cruisers were responding to the break-and-enter at the time of the collision, but did say investigators will be examining whether speed was a factor in the collision.
Seven investigators and four forensic investigators have been assigned to look into the incident, the release said. One subject officer and three witness officers have also been designated as part of the investigation.
Anyone with information is being asked to come forward, as are any businesses that may have captured security footage of the incident.
Mississauga Road was closed between Eglinton Avenue West and Erin Centre Boulevard for the investigation.
The SIU investigates any incident of death, serious injury or alleged sexual assault involving police.
