Police tape marks a crime scene in this file photo.JOHN LEHMANN/The Globe and Mail
A 33-year-old Niagara regional police officer died in a head-on collision while driving his motorcycle home from work early Friday.
Constable Joe Mellen, whose motorcycle collided with a car on Highway 406 in Welland, Ont., was on his way home after a 12-hour night shift, said Chief Jeffrey McGuire.
"He was a good cop, a good hard-working civil servant, serving the citizens of the Niagara Region," said McGuire.
"And he was also a great, fun guy to be around. So everything I have learned about him is that he was one of those guys who will be sorely missed."
McGuire said Mellen, who had been with the Niagara police force for nine years, was recently divorced and was the father of two children, a son and a daughter.
A woman in the car, believed to be the driver, was taken to hospital with serious injuries.
McGuire says provincial police are investigating the collision and Niagara police are co-operating with them.
He said his force was grateful for the public support it received through social media from people across the country.
The highway was closed between Woodlawn and East Main Street for several hours while police investigated.