Officer cleared in fatal crash following attempted traffic stop
An Edmonton police officer who was following a vehicle moments before it was involved in a fatal collision in March 2016 did not contribute to the crash or the deaths of two people, the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team has concluded.
The officer executed his duties lawfully at all times during his pursuit, ASIRT stated in a Thursday news release.
The mere fact that the officer attempted to lawfully stop the vehicle is not enough to constitute police conduct that “caused or significantly contributed” to the deaths and injuries in the crash, ASIRT said.
The officer was monitoring traffic in a marked police car while parked near 121 Avenue and 82 Street on the morning of March 13, 2016.
Shortly before 5:30 a.m., the officer spotted a dark-coloured Chevrolet Monte Carlo southbound on 82 Street driving faster than the flow of traffic. The officer followed the vehicle through residential streets in an attempt to stop it but occasionally lost sight of the vehicle.
At one point, the vehicle sped toward the police car, nearly causing a head-on collision.
At the direction of his supervisor, the officer stopped the search six minutes after the pursuit began.
Moments later, the Chevrolet entered the intersection at Manning Drive and 50 Street at a high rate of speed, smashing into two other cars. Two passengers in the Chevrolet died in the collision.
ASIRT determined the officer was not following the Chevrolet close enough to affect the driver’s operation of the vehicle before or during the collision.
“The officer not only took the appropriate steps as this incident unfolded, but also proceeded to follow direction given by his supervisor,” ASIRT said.
A public fatality inquiry will be scheduled to review the pursuit and crash, and to identify any recommendations to prevent future deaths.
A 29-year-old man and a 23-yearold woman who were in the back seat of the Chevrolet died at the scene of the crash. The 25-yearold male driver and a 23-year-old female passenger who had been sitting in the front seat suffered serious injuries.
The occupants of the other two vehicles involved in the crash were unharmed.