Motorcyclist dies after attempted traffic stop in East Vancouver

The province’s police oversight agency is investigating after an attempted traffic stop possibly led to a fatal motorcycle collision in East Vancouver Wednesday night.

The Vancouver Police Department (VPD) says the motorcycle driver failed to stop for officers near East Hastings Avenue before riding south on Victoria Drive.

“It is alleged he collided into several vehicles along Victoria Drive before crashing into a tree near Victoria [Drive] and [8th] Avenue,” said police Thursday.

The VPD says the 21-year-old motorcyclist died at the scene of the crash.

Given that the collision happened after an attempted traffic stop, police say the Independent Investigations Office of BC (IIO) has been notified.

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.

Anyone who witnessed the motorcyclist or captured dashcam footage is asked to call the VPD’s Collision Investigation Unit at 604-717-3012.