The province’s police watchdog is investigating after a multi-vehicle crash on Hwy. 400 in Vaughan overnight ended in a major shutdown and a driver seriously injured in an arrest by off-duty ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ police officers.
Around midnight Thursday, OPP were called to the three-vehicle crash at Bass Pro Mills Drive, OPP Sgt. Kerry Schmidt told reporters at the scene Thursday morning.
The driver of a contractor type panel van slammed into the back of a minivan, Schmidt said, hitting another vehicle.
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One driver fled the scene near Vaughan Mills, said the OPP, and an off-duty police officer whose vehicle was involved in the crash followed, he said.
The driver who fled was taken into police custody with the help of York and ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ officers, Schmidt said.Â
In the course of the arrest carried out by off-duty ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ police officers in the Vaughan Mills parking lot the driver was seriously injured, said a spokesperson for the Special Investigations Unit.
His injuries are not life-threatening, the spokesperson said, adding the man was taken to hospital.
ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ police declined to comment further on the arrest amid the SIU’s investigation.
Police are investigating whether impaired driving was a factor in the collision, Schmidt said.
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Two other people were taken to hospital as a precaution after the crash, Schmidt said.
The northbound lanes at Rutherford Road were closed through the night, reopening around 9:20 a.m. after a closure that stretched into drivers’ morning commute.
The closure was a “frustrating time” for drivers, Schmidt said, noting its length was due to the multiple police forces involved and need to secure the scene .
Anyone with information is asked to contact Aurora OPP at 905-841-5777.
ROAD CLOSURE: northbound is closed at Rutherford, Vaughan due to a multi-vehicle collision. One individual is transported to hospital as precaution. Unknown injuries at this time. Expect lengthy closure and please avoid the area. ^pia
— OPP GTA Traffic (@OPP_GTATraffic)
EM
Elissa Mendes is a breaking news reporter, working out of
the Star’s radio room in ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½. Reach her via email: emendes@thestar.ca
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