Two members of the Brant County OPP have been charged for their actions in an incident that began with a RIDE check near Burford, and ended with an 18-year-old woman dead in Brantford.
Const. Craig McMurtrie and Const. Rodney Grubb each face once count apiece of criminal negligence causing death, dangerous driving causing death and mischief endangering life.
Investigators believe the October 2014 incident began when a pickup truck failed to stop for a RIDE program at Maple Avenue and Eighth Concession Road.
“Officers attempted to stop it, but the pickup did not stop and entered into the City of Brantford – where it was involved in a collision with another vehicle,” Monica Hudon, a spokesperson for Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit, said in an interview.
That third vehicle, hit in the area of Gilkinson and Colborne streets, was being driven by 18-year-old Ashley Lerno, who suffered injuries in the crash which proved fatal five days later.
McMurtrie and Donald will appear in court in March.
Their charges are the first ever to be laid against Brant County OPP officers by the SIU.
Two other people face charges in connection with the crash.
Richard Gamble, 48, was allegedly behind the wheel of the pickup truck. He is charged with dangerous driving causing death, criminal negligence causing death, flight from police causing death and other offences.
David Gregory, 34, is charged with possession of stolen property.
