Chase fatality not cop’s fault

B.C. police watchdog finds Kelowna Mountie acted appropriately

A Kelowna Mountie was not responsible for the death of a driver involved in a police chase on Highway 33 last year, the Independent Investigation Office of B.C. has ruled.

On June 20, 2018, a Kelowna RCMP officer was patrolling along Highway 33 when he saw a vehicle speed by him in the opposite direction just after 3 a.m.

The officer said he saw oncoming traffic in the distance.

He activated his lights and sirens, made a U-turn and sped after the vehicle.

He reported the car went back and forth across Highway 33 at over 110 km/h and eventually veered to the left, went over the curb and collided with a concrete fence, causing the car to spin.

The officer reported seeing people and debris being thrown from the car.

He estimated the car had been travelling at over 130 km/h and reported he was about one block away when the car came to rest in the centre of the road.

All four occupants of the vehicle were injured, and the driver died.

The RCMP notified the Independent Investigations Office at 5 a.m.

The role of the IIO is to determine if the officer may have committed an offence relating to the incident that led to the death of the victim, Ronald MacDonald, chief civilian director with the IIO, wrote in his report, released late last month.

One passenger told the IIO she was sleeping in the front passenger seat and was awoken when the driver said the police were behind them.

She estimated the police car was “pretty far” behind them, about 90 metres.

Another passenger said he recalled very little other than being in the car while it was spinning out of control.

The last passenger told police he had no recollection of the incident.

“In this situation, based on the evidence, (the officer) did exactly what he needed to do in order to protect the life of a third party,” said MacDonald of the officer’s concern for oncoming traffic. “His actions were reasonable and appropriate.”

MacDonald ruled the officer acted as required by his duties and in accordance with the law.

The matter will not be referred to Crown counsel for consideration of charges.