IIO Investigating Early-Morning Incident Near Chilliwack (2020-321)

Information Bulletin
Independent Investigations Office
For Immediate Release

Surrey, B.C. – The Independent Investigations Office (IIO) of B.C. is investigating an early-morning incident near Chilliwack that resulted in the deaths of two people and serious injuries to a third.

This morning at approximately 4:00 am, the Upper Fraser Valley detachment of the RCMP received a call about a vehicle travelling the wrong way on Highway 1 near Laidlaw. The RCMP reports that a Chilliwack officer located a vehicle travelling westbound at excessive speed in the eastbound lanes near Annis Road. The vehicle collided head-on with an eastbound vehicle and caught fire. Officers’ attempts to extinguish the fire were unsuccessful.

Officers extracted one person from the eastbound vehicle. The person was transported to hospital with serious injuries. Officers were unable to remove the driver and a passenger from the suspect vehicle, and both were pronounced dead at the scene.

The IIO is investigating the circumstances surrounding this incident. Anyone with relevant information is asked to contact the IIO witness line at 1-855-446-8477.

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.

info@iiobc.ca