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Aug. 30 incident

Police not responsible for biker’s death, says report

Sep 22, 2020 | 12:03 PM

The office that investigates all cases of serious injury or death involving police in B.C. says officers were not responsible for the death of a motorcyclist near Enderby last month.

The Independent Investigations Office says it has reviewed evidence — including dashcam video from a vehicle the motorcyclist hit — and determined the actions of officers did not lead to the man’s death.

“The evidence corroborates that officers followed RCMP policy and did not pursue the motorcycle, arriving at the collision scene minutes after it had occurred. The investigation has therefore been concluded.” (Independent Investigations Office of B.C.)

On August 30, at around 11:00 a.m., several reports were made to the RCMP about a motorcyclist who was riding erratically, without a helmet and without license plates on Highway 97A northbound. Officers first observed the motorcycle in Lake Country, where they attempted a traffic stop. The motorcyclist did not stop, ran a red light, and continued north on Highway 97A. The motorcyclist was also seen by police in Vernon who did not attempt a traffic stop.

A short while later, the male rider fell off his motorcycle in the driveway of a civilian home in Enderby, and the residents attempted to prevent the man riding any further. 911 was called, but the man departed on his motorcycle as police arrived.  The motorcyclist again did not stop and sped away northbound on Highway 97A. The officer did not pursue.

About nine kilometres further north on Hwy 97A near Grindrod, the motorcycle crossed the centre line while trying to negotiate a turn and collided head-on with another vehicle that was heading south. The rider was transported to hospital where he died in the early morning hours of September 1, 2020.

The IIO’s Chief Civilian Director reviewed the evidence and got statements from seven civilian witnesses in finding that police actions were not responsible for the man’s death.

“The evidence corroborates that officers followed RCMP policy and did not pursue the motorcycle, arriving at the collision scene minutes after it had occurred. The investigation has therefore been concluded,” stated an IIOBC news release.

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