The Special Investigations Unit is investigating after a York Region police officer shot a person suspected of driving a stolen car Tuesday night.

At about 8:15 p.m., York police officers identified a stolen vehicle heading west on Steeles Ave. W., east of Islington Ave, and attempted to stop it, the SIU said in a news release.

Shortly after, the vehicle became involved in a collision with another car, Ontario’s police watchdog said.

A confrontation broke out between the officers and the driver of the stolen vehicle. One officer discharged his firearm and the driver was struck, the SIU said.

He was taken to hospital where he remains in serious condition. A female occupant of the vehicle was taken to hospital as a precaution.

York police said an officer was also taken to hospital as a precaution and has been released.

The SIU has designated one subject officer and five witness officers in its investigation. York Region police are also conducting a parallel investigation.

The SIU is the arm’s-length provincial agency tasked with investigating police actions that lead to serious injury, death or allegations of sexual assault.

Aug. 14, 2019 — Update: This story has been changed from a previously published version to update that the SIU reports that the suspect of the stolen car was shot by a police officer. A previous version of the story also misstated the name of York Region police spokesperson Sandra Crescenzi.

TY Tom Yun is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Star’s radio room in Toronto. Follow him on Twitter: @thetomyun

Ilya Bañares is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Star's radio room in Toronto. Follow him on Twitter: @ilyaoverseas

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