2 Durham officers charged in Hwy. 401 crash that killed 4, including baby: SIU

Two Durham police officers have been charged in connection to a fatal crash on Highway 401 that involved a wrong-way driver fleeing from police.

Durham police had been called to a robbery at an LCBO in Clarington just after 8 p.m. on April 29, 2024. When police arrived, the suspect fled in a cargo van, and a pursuit was initiated.

Police say the suspect driver then proceeded onto Highway 401, driving in the opposite direction, which resulted in a multi-vehicle crash with fatalities that involved at least six cars.

Four people, including a three-month-old baby, were killed. The grandparents killed in the crash had just arrived in Canada from India for a family visit days before

The 21-year-old man driving the cargo van died in the crash and a 38-year-old male passenger was injured.

Two other people, the parents of the child, were seriously injured but survived the crash.

In a statement shared by the Special Investigations Unit shortly after the crash, Gokulnath Manivannan said the pain of losing his 60-year-old father, 55-year-old mother and three-month-old son was far worse than the physical injuries he suffered in the crash.

Audio of the chase released months after the crash revealed at least one Ontario Provincial Police officer expressed concern that “someone is going to get hurt” after seeing the high-speed chase going in the wrong direction on the highway.

Almost nine months later, the SIU determined there were grounds to charge two officers in connection with the pursuit.

Sgt. Richard Flynn and Cst. Brandon Hamilton are each facing three counts of criminal negligence causing death and two counts of criminal negligence causing bodily harm. They are set to appear in court on February 13.

The police watchdog declined to offer further comment with the case before the courts.

Durham police chief Peter Moreira said the officers had been suspended with pay and they would be assigned to administrative duties “if and when they are reinstated.”

He said he believed one officer had over 32 years of experience while the other had four.

Moreira said while he could not speak to the specifics of the case, he warned against making a rush to judgment before all the evidence is presented in the criminal proceeding.

“Regardless of the SIU investigation this was a tragic and catastrophic event that resulted in the death of innocent lives, devastated a family, and has profoundly impacted our community – a community that also includes every member of the Durham Regional Police Service.”

Moreira added now that the SIU portion of the investigation is over, he has reached out to the family to express his “deepest condolences.”

He says an internal investigation will be held into the conduct of DRPS members, the policing provided in relation to this event, as well as an examination of internal procedures. No date or timeline for that review was given.

“Our officers are often called upon to make split-second decisions in an increasingly complex, dynamic and dangerous environment and do so with the commitment to protect life and remove dangerous criminals from our streets. And we are held accountable for our actions,” said Moreira. “Whether your concern is centred on a suspected criminal who fled from police or concerned with the decision-making of officers during this event, we must all have respect for our justice system and be patient for this process to unfold.”