B.C.’s police watchdog organization says it was not initially informed about a fatal crash in Chilliwack that may have involved the RCMP, but is now handling the investigation.
The crash took place on Yale Road near Banford Road on Dec. 26 at about 10:15 p.m.
A white Ford pickup truck crashed into a utility pole near a sharp corner in Yale Road. Paramedics and the fire department attended the scene, where the 27-year-old driver was pronounced dead.
The Chilliwack RCMP initially told media that there was no police involvement and that the Independent Investigations Office of B.C. (IIOBC) would not be involved.
However, on Jan. 2, the IIOBC sent out a media release announcing they had not been made aware of the crash and are now investigating.
“The RCMP reported no police involvement with the pickup truck prior to the collision and the IIO was not notified at the time,” they said in an emailed statement. “As a result of information received from the public on Dec. 29, the IIO is now investigating the incident and the circumstances that led up to the collision.”
There are two factors that the IIO considers at the beginning of each investigation, they said. One is if there has been an injury that meets the threshold of serious harm, as defined by the P0lice Act or a death; and if there is a connection between the serious harm/death and officer action or inaction.
They state that “if both conditions are met, the investigation will continue to examine all available evidence to determine what occurred. At the conclusion of the investigation, the chief civilian director will consider whether there are reasonable grounds to believe that an offence may have occurred.”
The IIO asks that any witnesses who has information regarding this matter to please contact the IIO at their Witness Line toll-free at 1-855-446-8477 or via the contact form on the iiobc.ca website.
The IIO is the independent civilian oversight agency of officers and detention guards in British Columbia. It investigates all incidents involving officers or detention guards that result in serious harm or death, whether or not there is any allegation of wrongdoing.