A Kemptville, Ont., woman who claimed a man in a black sedan ran into her infant daughter before driving away made the whole thing up, Ontario Provincial Police said in a news release Wednesday.

A 24-year-old woman has been charged with public mischief.

In a story that was widely reported in the media, including CBC, the woman claimed she was walking east on the north side of Clothier Street in Kemptville on the afternoon of Dec. 6 when a black sedan pulled out of a parking lot and struck the stroller carrying her five-month-old daughter.

In interviews later, she claimed the seat her daughter was strapped into was thrown into the street, where it landed upside-down. The infant was not harmed, police reported at the time.

The woman claimed the male driver then drove away before anyone could get his licence plate number.

OPP issued a release asking for information leading to the driver's identification.

But on Tuesday they said "as a result of the investigation that followed, the OPP have determined that there was no collision between a fail to remain motor vehicle, the baby stroller and the person pushing the baby stroller."

Court appearance Feb. 1

Const. Cathy Lindsey of the Grenville County OPP refused to speculate on why the woman would have made the story up, but said it's extremely rare for someone to falsely report such a serious incident.

"I've been the media relations officer for the past 16 years and a police officer for 28 years," Lindsey told CBC News. "I cannot ever recall anything like this happening before."

While police believe the woman fabricated the hit-and-run story, Lindsey said at least one element is true: she does have a five-month-old daughter.

The woman is due to appear in court in Kemptville on Feb. 1.