The Special Investigations Unit has invoked its mandate in connection with a single vehicle crash that resulted in a massive power outage Monday.
A vehicle collided with a hydro pole on Belmont Sixth Line in Havelock-Belmont-Methuen late in the morning and left thousands without power from the Village of Hastings and Campbellford in the west, to north of Havelock, to Cloyne in the east along with other areas like Thomasburg, Glen Ross, Stirling-Rawdon and Centre Hastings.
The outage lasted into the evening for some customers.
Peterborough County OPP say an officer patrolling County Road 48 attempted a traffic stop after receiving an Automated Licence Plate Recognition alert for a vehicle.
The driver did not stop and was involved in the collision a short time later and was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
As a result of the investigation, 21-year-old James Martin of Havelock was arrested and charged with:
Dangerous operation
Flight from peace officer
Fail to comply with probation order
Driving while under suspension
Operate a motor vehicle without insurance
Use plate not authorized for vehicle
The accused is scheduled to appear in a Peterborough court on August 20.
Belmont Sixth Line remained closed for several hours between County Road 48 and Fire Route 29 for the police investigation and hydro pole repair.
Ontario Provincial Police will not provide any more information about the incident now that the SIU is investigating.