IIO Concludes an Investigation into a Motor Vehicle Incident in Enderby (2020-221)
Case: 2020-221 Incident Date: August 30, 2020 Location: Enderby Detachment: North Okanagan Agency: RCMP Incident Classification: Death Case Status: Closed - Without Public ReportINFORMATION BULLETIN
Independent Investigations Office
For Immediate Release
Surrey, B.C. – The Independent Investigations Office (IIO) of BC is concluding an investigation into an incident in Enderby.
As detailed in our previous releases on August 31 and September 1, on August 30, 2020 at approximately 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 has reviewed the evidence – including dashcam footage from the vehicle the motorcycle collided with, CCTV from a nearby business, and statements from seven civilian witnesses – and determined that police actions were not responsible for the death of the man. 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.
Background
The IIO is the independent civilian oversight agency of the police in British Columbia. It investigates all officer-related incidents that result in serious harm or death, whether or not there is any allegation of wrongdoing.