Guelph Police say criminal charges are possible for the driver involved in a series of collisions with police cruisers on College Avenue at the Hanlon Expressway late Sunday afternoon.
Sgt. Dave Caron of the Guelph Police Service said a call came in at 4:50 p.m. Sunday requesting police to check on the well being of a person.
Caron said they located the female driving a Land Rover on College Avenue near Gordon Street. He said he does not believe anyone else was in the vehicle at the time it was located.
Police attempted to stop the vehicle, said Caron, with speeds during the chase along College reaching about 65 km/h.
Caron said the vehicle was finally stopped on College Avenue heading westbound just prior to the entrance to the Hanlon.
“Officers attempted to get that person out of the vehicle. The vehicle then tried fleeing the scene,” said Caron.
One cruiser was pushed into the intersection as the fleeing vehicle attempted a U-turn, said Caron, hitting a second cruiser head on in the eastbound lane.
As a result of the collisions, the woman and one police officer were taken to hospital with minor injuries. Both have since been released, said Caron.
College Street was closed at the Hanlon Expressway for over five hours as police reconstructed the scene of the collisions.
The intersection was expected to be open by about 10 p.m. Sunday, said Caron.
The investigation is in early stages, said Caron. The driver of the Land Rover has not yet been charged and is not in police custody.
Alcohol is not believed to have been a factor, said Caron, and criminal charges for the driver may be possible.
“As far as the circumstances that led to this and as a result of the collision, it’s early right now. Charges may be pending,” said Caron. “They could be looking at dangerous driving, flight from police as well as some Highway Traffic Act offences.”
Caron also addressed the possibility that the incident could be deemed not criminal in nature.
Ontario's Special Investigations Unit has not been called as the incident does not fall within its mandate, said police.
Police are currently seeking witnesses to the incident as they continue with the investigation.
