IIO Seeks Witnesses to a Motor Vehicle Incident in Victoria (2025-014)
Case: 2025-014 Case Status: Open - Investigation in ProgressINFORMATION BULLETIN
Independent Investigations Office
For Immediate Release
Surrey, B.C. — The Independent Investigations Office of BC (IIO) is seeking witnesses to a January 12, 2025 motor vehicle incident in Victoria where two people were injured.
Information provided by the Victoria Police Department states that at about 3:00 a.m. yesterday (January 12, 2025), officers reportedly saw a black sedan driving on the wrong side of the road and attempted to conduct a traffic stop.
It is reported that the sedan did not stop and was involved in a single vehicle collision shortly after on the west side of the Johnson Street Bridge near the Vic West Skatepark on Esquimalt Road.
The IIO was notified of the incident shortly after it occurred and has commenced an investigation. Initial investigative steps will seek to confirm if the injuries of the two people in the sedan meet the definition of serious harm, as defined by the Police Act. If serious harm is established, further investigation will examine whether the officer’s actions during the arrest were necessary, reasonable, and proportionate in the circumstances.
The IIO is asking that any witnesses that have not already provided a statement, or who have other video footage of the incident, to please contact the IIO at our Witness Line toll-free at 1-855-446-8477 or via the contact form on the iiobc.ca website.
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.