Police crimes investigation succeed with society support

The Windsor Police Service is actively investigating a hit-and-run collision that took place on Nov. 15 between Jefferson Boulevard and Haig Avenue, causing the death of 7-year-old Kuzi James.  

 Experts say the community’s cooperation in investigations is important and support is a main factor in the success of police investigations. 

 

During the hit and run investigation, officers located and seized a van on Nov. 19 matching the description of the suspect vehicle. The investigation is still active.  

Steve Betteridge, a public information officer with the Windsor Police Service, said they secured the scene immediately after the accident in order to gather evidence. Members of the collision reconstruction and identification units are working together on this case. But the most important factor, Betteridge emphasized, is the community.  

 

“At the top and the start of every case without a doubt always the community are the eyes and the ears for the police. That concept will never change,” said Betteridge.  

In hit–and–run accidents, Betteridge said there are charges under the Highway Traffic Act and the Criminal Code which differ from case to case.  

He also said they are watching any related surveillance videos and investigating with witnesses, but they still encourage people with information to contact them or Crime Stoppers. 

“Our community does a tremendous job of contacting 911 immediately when they see trouble, when they see something suspicious,” said Betteridge.  

George Kyriazakos, criminal lawyer for GK Law, said while hit-and-run accidents are serious offences, harsh punishments might reduce their occurrence. He also had other thoughts about those in similar circumstances. 

“Spreading awareness about what your obligations are in a hit–and-run accident, you could probably push that to the insurance companies, so people who insure drivers make it mandatory for them to have something in their policy they have to go over,” said Kyriazakos.  

He also said people who flee the scene are negligent, but in some cases, they are just scared of what would happen to them. The driver will be charged depending on their case, including causation and fail to remain. 

“We need to identify what the causes are of hit-and-run accidents and prevent those causes,” said Kyriazakos. “Go to each cause and see how to prevent it.” 

Pedestrians are vulnerable road users. In Canada, from 2004 to 2008, 13 per cent of all road fatalities were pedestrians; eight per cent motorcyclists and two per cent bicyclists. In total, vulnerable road users account for almost a quarter of traffic fatalities in Canada. 

While the investigation and the research for the driver continue, the community expressed their grief about the accident and support for the victim’s family at a vigil earlier this week.