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SIU investigating after driver fleeing police hits pedestrian

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Ontario's police watchdog is investigating the circumstances surrounding a collision in Westboro that sent a pedestrian to hospital.

The Special Investigations Unit says a 46-year-old man was crossing the street at the intersection of Richmond Road and Kirkwood Avenue Saturday night when a driver in a Honda Civic struck him. The victim is now in the ICU.

According to the SIU, the incident began earlier in the evening, when an Ottawa police officer in an unmarked car on Shillington Avenue spotted the Civic, which is described in a news release as a "vehicle of interest", and began following it. Police tried to stop the car in the area of Carling Avenue and Merivale Road, but the driver sped away. The crash at Richmond and Kirkwood happened a short time later.

The SIU says the driver of the Honda Civic was arrested.

Ottawa police have not yet announced any charges in this case. 

Witnesses report hearing screeching tires late Saturday night just before the crash.

"I heard a large screeching. I turned and then, boom, this big sound and I saw a body fly in the air and people screaming. It was horrible," said Maral Shabani. 

The intersection was closed all of Sunday morning for the police investigation. Roads reopened to traffic at around 12:20 p.m.

The SIU is an independent government agency that investigates the conduct of law enforcement officials that may have resulted in death, serious injury, sexual assault and/or the discharge of a firearm at a person. 

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