The Queen Elizabeth Way highway bridge that spans the Welland River, Oakwood Drive, and the entrance from Montrose Road to Baden-Powell Park, will now be known as the Constable Luciano DeSimone Memorial Bridge.
On May 2, 1974, the 24-year-old was driving northbound on the Queen Elizabeth Way from Fort Erie, traveling on the Welland River bridge, when his cruiser struck the rear of a flatbed transport truck that had stopped and was not visible to approaching traffic. The truck driver had stopped his rig in order to render assistance to a motorist who moments earlier had been involved in an accident on the highway.
Constable DeSimone died on the way to hospital.
The Ontario Provincial Police investigated the collision and no charges were laid in regards to this collision.
This promising young officer was the first officer of the newly formed Niagara Regional Police Force to die in the performance of his duties. At the time of his death, Constable DeSimone was engaged to be married.
The bridge dedication serves as a memorial to the service and sacrifice of Constable DeSimone and also serves as a reminder of the risks that all police officers face on a daily basis as they serve their communities.