VIDEO: ‘Hearts are shattered’: Northumberland OPP mourns sergeant killed in Cobourg Hwy. 401 crash

Sgt. Brandon Malcolm’s career goal was to become a police officer – he accomplished this in 2020.

In the years that followed, he dedicated himself to the Northumberland OPP Detachment and was described as an accomplished and respected member of the service’s golden helmets precision motorcycle team and a sergeant who served his community with dedication and valued duty and honour – and he paid the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty Monday, April 27.

This was the message OPP Commissioner Thomas Carrique shared during a brief address at the Cobourg OPP Detachment headquarters Monday night after what’s believed to be a single-vehicle motorcycle crash earlier Monday, which claimed the 33-year-old man’s life.

Carrique opened his address speaking of “a broken heart” while confirming the tragic news of the on-duty death of Malcolm and that the sergeant was involved in a crash – which police previously identified as a single-vehicle collision involving a motorcycle – at about 5:30 p.m. Monday, while travelling in the eastbound lanes near Cobourg. The crash, he said, led to fatal injuries.

However, the collision remains under investigation – along with a secondary crash that happened in the westbound lanes – which ultimately led to a full-on highway shutdown in both directions.

“His career goal was to become a police officer,” said Carrique, while reflecting on Malcolm’s service. “He had been an auxiliary member with Toronto Police, a member of the Canadian Armed Forces, and in 2020, he joined the Ontario Provincial Police.”

This was an individual dedicated to duty, committed to the passion of policing, and extremely proud to be a golden helmets  member, continued Carrique.

Malcolm’s identity was not initially released as next-of-kin notifications were prioritized first. Following the release of his identity, OPP confirmed in a subsequent late night update Monday that Malcolm joined OPP in June 2020 and served his entire policing career with the Northumberland detachment.

Monday marked a dark for the policing and first-responder community across the province.

However, Carrique was also quick to thank local emergency partners such as the Cobourg Police Service, Cobourg Fire Department and Northumberland Paramedics for their help Monday.

“They all came to our aid when we needed them the most.”

During the media scrum, Carrique was asked a lot about who Malcolm was and what the ask of the public is now in his memory – his responses were to the point and heart-wrenching at times.

“Please know that this is an individual (who) sacrificed their life to serve and protect this province.”

THE SECONDARY CRASH

More details also came to light through the presser around a secondary collision in the westbound lanes.

Carrique confirmed the crash, saying officers were responding westbound on Hwy. 401 and ended up colliding with a vehicle that had stopped to also render assistance to the officer in need.

Minor physical injuries were reported and while he couldn’t at the time of the presser confirm the number of people injured, he said everyone had been examined and released from hospital.

THE PLEA FOR THE PUBLIC’S HELP

The investigations into these collisions are still ongoing, with an emphasis on the crash that claimed Malcolm’s life.

Carrique reiterated the call for anyone with any information that can help with the investigation to reach out to OPP or Crime Stoppers anonymously.

With regards to the crash involving the motorcycle, investigators are looking to talk to witnesses or anyone with video or dash-cam footage and the like to piece together exactly what happened. It’s still an open and ongoing investigation, stressed Carrique.

While information or witnesses to either of the collisions are encouraged to reach out, Carrique noted OPP has a strong handle on the westbound secondary crash.

“What’s the primary focus for right now is the collision that took the life of our officer.”

“Anyone who witnessed anything that can assist in that investigation, we would appreciate them coming forward,” pleaded Carrique. “There’ll be dash-cam footage, eyewitnesses – all of it will be valuable for us (to conclude) the investigation.”

STILL IN EARLY STAGES OF INVESTIGATION

At this point in the investigation, Carrique reiterated that it does appear to be a single-vehicle collision in the eastbound lanes but stressed that the investigation is still in the early stages.

Forensic evidence still needs to be reviewed, along with dash-cam footage and witnesses need to be interviewed, he explained.

In other words, at this point, investigators haven’t ruled out there may have been another vehicle involved – but at this stage, there’s also no evidence to indicate that, he said, in response to inquiries.

Because the investigation is in its early stages, this also means investigators are limited in the details that can be shared at this time.

The circumstances surrounding the incident also remain under investigation in partnership with the Office of the Chief Coroner and the Ontario Forensic Pathology Service. OPP’s traffic management and enforcement team and forensic identification services teams were also called in to help.

If you can help with the probe, people are urged to contact OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or Crime Stoppers, which is an anonymous option by calling 1-800-22-8477.

SUPPORT FOR LOVED ONES

Carrique said police are standing alongside and helping family members, along with other policing partners, and described a large family and noted there were several next-of-kin notifications to ensure the family wasn’t hearing this tragic news on social media or in the media before hearing from OPP.

RECAP FROM EARLIER COVERAGE

Earlier Monday at about 5:30 p.m., police said they responded to reports of a single-vehicle collision involving a motorcycle on Hwy. 401 near Burnham Street. An OPP member – later identified as Malcolm – was pronounced deceased at the scene, reported police, in their first update.

The highway was quickly shut down in both directions between County Road 28 near Port Hope and Burnham Street in Cobourg.

MBC video footage from earlier in the day shows traffic backed up in both directions and a heavy presence of emergency vehicles and personnel.

Just after 2 a.m., police confirmed the eastbound lanes along the highway had reopened, but the westbound lanes remained closed between 28 and Burnham. People are still being asked to avoid the area.

Premier Doug Ford was also among the many extending condolences Monday as the news of Malcolm’s passing reverberated throughout the province.

“I am very sad to hear that an Ontario Provincial Police officer was killed in the line of duty in Cobourg earlier today,” said Ford, on X. “My thoughts are with the officer’s family and loved ones, as well as all of our brave women and men in uniform across the province who risk their lives every day to protect Ontario.”

MBC will update this story as more information becomes available.

(Written by: Sarah Hyatt)