The OPP Underwater Search and Recovery Unit was on scene on the evening of Wednesday, Apr. 22, 2026, where a vehicle ended up in Lake Ontario off Highway 33 in Greater Napanee the night prior. OPP dive teams recovered a body from the vehicle that night, according to the SIU. Photo by Cris Vilela/Kingstonist.

Investigators have recovered a body from the water following a vehicle entering Lake Ontario off of Highway 33 in Greater Napanee.

The Special Investigations Unit (SIU) confirmed that a person had been recovered from the water deceased in an email update on the morning of Thursday, Apr. 23, 2026. The vehicle had entered the water on the night of Tuesday, Apr. 21, 2026, having struck a ditch while being pursued by the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), who were attempting to stop the vehicle. The incident occurred on Highway 33 in Greater Napanee near County Road 21, just across from the Lennox and Napanee generating stations. The stretch of Highway 33, which is also referred to as Bath Road and Loyalist Parkway, runs between the Village of Bath in Loyalist Township and the Town of Napanee.

Tire tracks in the grass show the direction the vehicle travelled as police attempted to pull it over. Fencing at the culvert pictured appears to be damaged, suggesting the vehicle struck the fence. Photos by Cris Vilela/Kingstonist.

Various investigators and emergency responders, including dive teams, attended the scene throughout the day on Wednesday, Apr. 22, 2026. It is unknown when exactly the body was located and recovered, but the SIU said the recovery occurred “over night” and was carried out by an OPP dive team.

“Last night OPP divers located a deceased person inside the submerged vehicle,” the provincial police watchdog said.

“The individual has not yet been formally identified.”

The SIU did not release any further details, but said the investigation remains ongoing. Kingstonist has inquired as to whether investigators believe there were any other occupants in the vehicle when it drove into the water.

In response to inquiries, Kristy Denette, a spokesperson for the SIU, said that authorities believe there was only one occupant in the vehicle that ended up submerged in the water — the person that was recovered from the vehicle by a dive team overnight.

“It is not believed that there were additional occupants,” Denette said.

Dive team members get suited up and officers enter a police boat as investigators carried out search and recovery efforts on the evening of Wednesday, Apr. 22, 2026. Photos by Cris Vilela/Kingstonist.A lone police boat searches the waters just off the shore during the day on Wednesday, Apr. 22, 2026. Submitted photo.

This remains a developing story. Kingstonist will provide further coverage as more information becomes available.

Anyone with information about this investigation, including video or photos, is asked to contact the SIU at 1-800-787-8529, or online at: https://siu.on.ca/en/appeals.php.

The SIU is reminding the public that anyone who has been negatively affected by an incident under their investigation and would like support, can contact the SIU’s Affected Persons Program.

“You can reach us at 1-877-641-1897. Support is free, confidential, and available 24/7, every day of the year,” the SIU shared.

Police staged at the parking lot of Finkle’s Shore Boat Launch in Loyalist Township off Highway 33 on the morning of Thursday, Apr. 23, 2026. Photo by Cris Vilela/Kingstonist.