Funeral for Surrey Mountie killed in car crash scheduled for Tuesday
We wanted you all to know that Adrian was a truly compassionate and caring man with an infectious smile and willingness to help anyone and everyone he could. STATEMENT FROM CONST. ADRIAN OLIVER’S FAMILY
The family of a young Mountie killed in a car crash Tuesday expressed anguish over his death, as his public funeral was slated for next week and the investigation into what caused Const. Adrian Oliver’s cruiser to collide with a transport truck at a Surrey intersection continues.
“It is truly hard to express the feelings we have as we deal with the tragic and unthinkable loss of a son, brother, grandson, lifelong companion, friend, colleague and police officer,” his family said in a British Columbia RCMP statement released Friday.
“We wanted you all to know that Adrian was a truly compassionate and caring man with an infectious smile and willingness to help anyone and everyone he could. He had a great passion for policing and was equally dedicated to his family and friends.”
The RCMP will hold a public funeral for Oliver Tuesday at 1 p. m. in the Langley Events Centre.
Cpl. Bert Paquet of the Surrey RCMP said it’s too early to tell what may have caused the collision and refused to speculate whether speed was a factor.
“We just want to cover all bases before we make any kind of statement, and see what direction the investigation will go. We’re looking at absolutely all evidence,” Paquet said.
RCMP investigators, with the assistance of the Vancouver police department, are still speaking to witnesses and gathering evidence, he said.
As a way of honouring Oliver’s life, Surrey RCMP encouraged donations to the Honour House Society, which provides temporary housing to Canadian soldiers and first responders. Oliver’s family arrived in Surrey earlier this week, and plans for a memorial service and other arrangements are pending, RCMP said.