B.C. police watchdog recommends charges after fatal 2024 crash

The Independent Investigations Office of BC (IIO) says it is recommending charges against a police officer in connection with a fatal crash last year near Nakusp.

Police say that just after 3 p.m. on Nov. 25, 2024, they saw a green 2003 Ford F350 pickup truck that had been reported stolen travelling south on Highway 6.

“One officer driving a marked police vehicle attempted to stop the vehicle, but a short time later, the pickup truck was involved in a single-vehicle collision, leaving the highway and crashing into a ditch,” the IIO said.

The driver was pronounced dead at the scene. A passenger was arrested, taken to hospital, and then released.

After a review of the evidence, IIO chief civilian director Jessica Berglund determined that “reasonable grounds exist to believe that the officer may have committed driving offences in relation to the use of their vehicle.”

The office says it has forwarded a report to the BC Prosecution Service for consideration of charges.

“In order to approve any charges, the BC Prosecution Service must be satisfied that there is a substantial likelihood of conviction based on the evidence gathered by the IIO, and that prosecution be required in the public interest.”

The IIO is called in after any police-related incidents that result in death or serious injury, whether or not there are any allegations of wrongdoing.