A growing number of New Toronto residents are outraged that a Toronto Police officer will not face charges in a wrong-way crash last May 13 that left two motorcyclists with serious leg and head injuries.

A report released on September 9 by the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) Director Joseph Martino admitted the officer travelled up a one-way street and collided with a motorcycle at Birmingham Street and Sixth Street just before 8 p.m.

Martino said the officer “failed in his duty of care to other motorists and was directly responsible for the collision that seriously injured two people.”

Martino was “not reasonably satisfied that the officer’s failures were of a magnitude warranting criminal sanction,” according to his report. “There was no indication of any excessive speed on the part of the officer as he travelled toward Birmingham Street nor of any other dangerous driving behaviour.”

The motorcycle riders were rushed to St Joseph’s Health Centre. The 49-year-old driver suffered multiple fractures and serious injuries to his internal organs. The female passenger, 30, was diagnosed with several fractures and a head injury.

The SIU said the officer, who has not been identified, was “operating his vehicle without an appropriate degree of attention to his surroundings” and was in part “distracted by having turned his attention toward his cruiser computer for reports of calls for service that might be coming in via dispatch.”

There was no discipline cited for travelling up a one-way street.

“There were clearly posted Do Not Enter signs in the northeast and northwest corners of the intersection with “DO NOT ENTER” (police capitals) printed under the northwest sign,” the report noted.

“The police SUV T-boned the motorcycle in the intersection near the middle of the road,” according to the report. “The motorcycle was thrown away and Complainant #1 and Complainant #2 were thrown to the sidewalk.”

“The police cruiser collided with the right side of the motorcycle and the sound of the impact could be heard,” according to the SIU report. “Complainant #1 was seen rolling over the top of the hood of the police cruiser and smashing into the windshield. He was then thrown onto the street.”

The police officer ‘ran to the side of Complainant #1 and Complainant #2, crouching down and speaking to them, letting them know everything would be fine and an ambulance was on the way.’

The driver of the police SUV was not injured in the crash.

News of a lack of charges against the officer by the SIU quickly circulated through the community with many residents taking to social media to call for charges to the officer involved.

“If I did it I’d be criminally charged,” wrote Bonnie Chapman.

“The crash happened in front of my building,” insisted Tina Murie. “The police car was going the wrong way and seriously hurt two people. The police officer should be charged.”

“Just disgusting,” wrote “Brenda Jaworsky.

“So he’s above the law. Was just casually cruising around , wrong way up the street, not even responding to a call,” noted Harg Core. “I can’t even put my thoughts into words without anger.”

The SIU is called in to investigate police when death, serious injury, sexual assault and, or the discharge of a firearm occurs against a member of the public.

The Director’s Report can be found here:  https://www.siu.on.ca/en/directors_report_details.php?drid=1543