No charges in pursuit
King’s County RCMP cleared by provincial SIRT investigation
The province’s independent Serious Incident Response Team (SIRT) has released its report after an investigation into a July 24, 2016 motor-vehicle crash near Weston.
The vehicle was followed by a member of the RCMP after three complaints were received regarding reckless driving and high rates of speed. Alcohol appeared to have been a factor, according to staff at a fast food drive-through in New Minas.
The car was eventually located by the RCMP officer and was driving east on Highway 101 near Aylesford at 165 kilometres per hour.
The officer attempted to stop the car, but it continued at a high speed and turned off the highway at Exit 16 and then turned onto Hwy 221. The officer discontinued his pursuit at that time for safety reasons. Two kilometers later, the car left the road, flipped several times, and ejected both occupants. One was very seriously injured.
The report noted data from the car’s crash data module showed investigators that the car was travelling at 165 km/h five seconds prior to the crash. After it left the road, it tumbled through a farm field side over side and end over end several times for just over 100 meters. It came to rest in a dense group of trees.
The investigation found the officer travelled at high speeds on Hwy 101 in an effort to catch up to the car, but given the dangerousness of the car’s driving it was reasonable to do so to attempt to stop the car.
SIRT investigator Ron Macdonald’s report concluded the officer’s driving was aimed at capturing a dangerous driver, and was discontinued when he was on a road that could not sustain high speeds.
In these circumstances, he said, there are no grounds to consider any charges against the police officer. Macdonald, who is a Queen’s Counsel, said his reports are aiming at fostering the confidence of the public in the police.