A wild pursuit ended tragically early this morning when a man was killed after fleeing from the Orillia OPP.
The incident started at about 2:30 a.m. when OPP officers from the Huntsville detachment were called to a break-and-enter in progress at a Huntsville store.
Once officers arrived on the scene, two males fled in a vehicle and refused to heed calls from police to stop.
The suspects took off down Highway 11 south to Orillia. That's when Orillia OPP got involved and put a spike belt across the highway in an attempt to stop the speeding vehicle.
The ploy worked. However, the two suspects fled on foot and stole a second vehicle they found nearby - in a wooded area near Nichols Line.
Police were able to stop the stolen vehicle and take one suspect into custody.
However, the second male stole another vehicle - reportedly an OPP cruiser - and fled the scene. However, he crashed that vehicle, which rolled over, say police.
Paramedics transported the male to Orillia Soldiers' Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced deceased.
Because the OPP was involved in this incident and the man died, the province's Special Investigations Unit (SIU) was informed and they have invoked their mandate.
As a result, the OPP will not be able to provide any further information.
A media spokesperson for the SIU said she could not provide any further information as information was still being gathered, but said a media release would be issued later today.
