The Special Investigations Unit (SIU) was called in after a traffic stop on a roadway near Kingston ended with a vehicle landing in Lake Ontario.
On April 21, Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) were attempting to stop a vehicle at around 10:55 p.m. on Bath Road in Lennox and Addington County, about 50 kilometres west of Kingston. At some point, the vehicle went into the ditch and then into Lake Ontario, where it became submerged, officials said.
Police do not know how many people were inside the vehicle, the release notes.
A search and rescue for an unknown number of people continues on Wednesday, led by the Prince Edward County OPP Marine Unit, OPP Aviation Services, the OPP East Region Traffic Incident Management and Enforcement Team, the OPP Underwater Search and Recovery Unit and the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre.
As a result, Highway 33 is closed at County Road 21.
Ontario’s police watchdog invoked its mandate on the case.
The SIU is tasked with investigating the conduct of officials that may have resulted in death, serious injury, sexual assault or the discharge of a firearm at a person. The SIU must publicly report the results of its investigation.