IIO Concludes Investigation into an Incident in Kelowna (2021-036)
Case: 2021-036 Incident Date: February 10, 2021 Detachment: Kelowna Location: Kelowna Agency: RCMP Incident Classification: Death Case Status: Closed - Without Public ReportINFORMATION BULLETIN
Independent Investigations Office
For Immediate Release
Surrey, B.C. – The Chief Civilian Director (CCD) of the Independent Investigations Office (IIO) of BC has concluded an investigation into an incident in Kelowna.
On February 10, 2021 at approximately 4:15 p.m., officers responded to reports that a vehicle crashed into a ditch in the 2000-block of Tower Ranch Boulevard. The vehicle reportedly caught fire but continued at a high rate of speed before entering another ditch and coming to a stop. Police managed to remove the male driver after some resistance and EHS attended, transporting the male to a local hospital for treatment.
Unfortunately the male succumbed to a very serious medical condition unrelated to the crash of his motor vehicle and passed away overnight.
The Chief Civilian Director has reviewed the medical information and concluded that the driver’s medical condition was the likely cause of the collision and behaviour, and police actions or inactions did not play a role in his death. The man sustained some other minor injuries which could have been caused either by the collision or when removed from the vehicle by police, but none meet the threshold of serious harm as defined by the Police Act. The IIO investigation is therefore 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.