MISSISSAUGA, Ont. - The province's police watchdog says there are no reasonable grounds to charge an Ontario Provincial Police officer with any criminal offence in relation to injuries sustained by a 31-year-old man and an 18-year-old woman in Arthur Township.

The incident took place in January this year, and began when a 31-year-old driver of a pickup truck left a gas station without paying for gas. The clerk reported the theft to police, indicating the vehicle had two people in it.

The SIU says an OPP officer spotted the pickup truck, which was believed to be stolen, and put on his emergency lights but the vehicle increased its speed instead of pulling over.

The SIU says the officer kept pace with the truck for some time but then determined that the slushy roadway conditions were unsafe, slowed his cruiser and turned off the emergency lights, losing sight of the truck.

The SIU says the officer then came upon the vehicle a short time later, finding that it had lost control, fishtailed on the slippery road and flipped. Both the driver of the vehicle and the 18-year-old passenger, neither of whom were wearing a seatbelt, were thrown from the vehicle and sustained injuries.

The SIU's acting director says it is difficult to find any fault with the conduct of the officer in the incident.