Police officer in Guelph, Ontario dies in vehicle crash
Posted March 14, 2013 8:46 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
GUELPH, ONTARIO (NEWS1130) – A police officer with the Guelph Police Service has died following a two-vehicle crash early Thursday morning.
Const. Jennifer Kovach, 26, died from her injuries in hospital.
Guelph police Const. Mike Gatto said the constable was the only officer in her marked cruiser when the incident took place at Imperial and Paisley roads, at around 12:30 a.m.
“[She was] en route to a call for service, at that time the cruiser actually crossed the centre line of the roadway and struck a Guelph transit bus. That occurred close the entrance of the Westend Recreational Centre,” Const. Gatto said.
The bus driver was taken to hospital for minor injuries and released.
No passengers were on the bus at the time.
Guelph police said Const. Kovach is the daughter of Guelph Councillor Gloria Kovach.
Kovach is the third officer killed in the line of duty in Guelph. Two other officers were killed, in 1922 and 1964, respectively.
“This is a sad and tragic day for the police service and the City of Guelph,” Guelph police said in a release.
“Constable Kovach exemplified the values of our service and was committed to making a difference. Jennifer was fulfilling her dream as a police officer and we will forever remember her zest for life, her strong sense of adventure and her gregarious smile that brightened all our lives.”
Joint statement from Guelph Mayor Karen Farbridge and chief administrative officer Ann Pappert, March 14, 2013
It is with tremendous sadness that we learned this morning of the death of Constable Jennifer Kovach of the Guelph Police Service, killed on duty on her way to assist at a call.
Our heartfelt condolences go to Councillor Gloria Kovach, Constable Kovach’s mother, and their family, who have lost a loved one this morning. There are no words that can adequately express our sorrow over their tragic loss.
We also recognize this is a very difficult time for our Guelph Police Service who have lost a member of their service. We would like to express our gratitude for their brave service, and assure them that Constable Kovach will always be remembered for her sacrifice to keep our community safe.
