In northern Ontario, authorities are engaged in a determined manhunt for a 69-year-old man named Richard Ouellette hailing from Dorval, Quebec, who is accused of dangerous operation causing death, dangerous operation causing bodily harm, and failure to appear in court. The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) have been searching for Ouellette in relation to a fatal collision on Highway 11 back in April 2022, but have so far come up empty-handed.
Further eluding law enforcement, Ouellette failed to show up to a scheduled court hearing in August 2022. The fugitive is facing charges in connection to a severe collision when the commercial vehicle he was operating crashed into a passenger vehicle on April 7, 2022.
This accident occurred around 3:30 p.m. on Highway 11 at the Highway 65 intersection in Temiskaming Shores. The passenger vehicle held two pregnant women – Christina “Chrissy” Osmond, a 21-year-old who was killed along with her unborn child, and her friend Brooke, a 22-year-old who survived but sustained critical injuries, losing her unborn baby as well.
Victim families expressed their outrage earlier this month, voicing their frustrations over the ongoing inability to locate Ouellette. Their distress was further exacerbated by the authorities’ initial refusal to release a clear mugshot of the accused.
To aid the concerted search efforts, the OPP has since made a public request for assistance in locating Ouellette and released his mugshot. Richard Ouellette is a Caucasian male, five-foot-nine-inch tall, weighing 213 pounds with a heavy build. He possesses brown hair and eyes, and speaks with a French Canadian accent.
Adding to the gravity of the manhunt, a Canada-wide warrant has been issued for Ouellette, once a resident of Quebec. The family of Brook, one of the victims, employed a private investigator who traced the suspect to Manitoba but he has since fled the province.
Jessica Pare, Brooke’s mother, made a heartfelt plea to the accused, urging him to face the consequences of his actions. Any police agency across Canada is now authorized to arrest Ouellette should he be located.
In an appeal to the public, the OPP has encouraged those with any information to call a dedicated phone line. As the chase for Ouellette prolongs, none of the allegations have been proven in court.
Alongside seeking justice for their devastating loss, the bereaved families are advocating for improved road safety in the province. They pleadingly suggest that the existing danger on the route where the incident took place is known to the government, yet no substantial action has been taken in response.
