OPP investigating after rocks thrown at moving vehicles in Markham

Provincial police are asking for the public's help as they investigate several instances of rocks thrown at moving vehicles in Markham, one of which led to a serious crash that left two people with life-threatening injuries.

The probe began after a two-vehicle collision on Sept. 20. At around 11:40 p.m., a 61-year-old man was driving westbound on Major MacKenzie Drive toward Highway 48 when a "fist-sized" rock was hurled through the front windshield of his vehicle, according to OPP Det.-Insp. Sean Chatland. 

The driver lost control and slammed into a vehicle waiting to make a turn in the intersection. The driver and his passenger, a 62-year-old woman, were badly injured and rushed to hospital, Chatland said. It was several days before the woman's conditioned stabilized enough to speak with investigators, he said. The man remains in hospital in critical condition.

Given the size of the rock, investigators believe it must have been thrown from a passing vehicle, Chatland said. 

"It's concerning, troubling, horrific. Here are two people who are just travelling on our roadways, which are supposed to be safe, and all of a sudden a projectile comes through the windshield and strikes the operator of the vehicle," he told CBC Toronto on Thursday.

"Lo and behold, as we continued to investigate this, we learned that it had happened several times previously in that area."

Earlier that same evening, around 10:30 p.m., police received two separate reports of rocks striking windshields of vehicles heading north on Highway 48 just past Elgin Mills Road, the next major intersection north of Highway 48 and Major MacKenzie Drive.

In both instances, the drivers were taken to hospital with minor injuries.

Chatland said police have since become aware of several similar incidents that happened the week prior in the same area. Investigators have also come across "social media chatter" suggesting even earlier incidents as well, he said.

Locals say they're shocked by the incident.

"Something like that is very much out of the ordinary," said Salman Shappar, who said the surrounding community is generally peaceful and calm. "I got two kids of my own and all you ever think about is your kids, and you just hope that it was a one-off incident."

Jyothy Mathur says she walks her dogs in the area and has never worried about her safety.

"I've been living in this neighbourhood for over 20 years now and never experienced this, so it is scary," she said.

OPP have released images of various vehicles as part of their investigation.

The first, taken from dashcam video captured in the area at the time of the Sept. 20 crash, shows two vehicles side by side. Chatland said he believes anyone travelling in those vehicles may have witnessed at least part of what unfolded that night, and their information could help advance the investigation.

The second image, taken from security camera video captured by a nearby business, shows two vehicles — one light coloured, the other dark coloured — moving right to left in the frame. Investigators think the rock may have been thrown from one of the two vehicles, according to Chatland.

Videos can be also be viewed in this social media post from the OPP's highway safety division.

OPP are appealing to the public for help identifying anyone who might have been in any of the vehicles included in the images. 

"It's unbelievable this kind of thing is happening. but unfortunately we have seen it before. So we are very much hoping that somebody is able to come forward and provide us some information about who is responsible for this," Chatland said.

Anyone with information can contact the Aurora OPP detachment or leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers.