Update to IIO Investigation in Abbotsford

INFORMATION BULLETIN
Independent Investigations Office
For Immediate Release

SURREY – The Independent Investigations Office of BC now confirms it is investigating a fatal motor vehicle crash that occurred in Abbotsford early yesterday evening.

According to the Abbotsford Police Department (APD), at approximately 6:15 p.m. on December 26, a 14 year old male youth was struck by a vehicle near the intersection of Mill Lake Road and West Bourquin, directly adjacent to the Sevenoaks Mall Bus Loop.

The youth sustained serious injuries and in spite of being airlifted to hospital, did not survive his injuries. He died shortly before midnight last evening.

The driver, who remained at the scene, has been identified as an off duty police officer from the APD.  As such, the incident was reported to the IIO and jurisdiction has been sustained.

IIO investigators were deployed to multiple locations and spent the night identifying and interviewing potential witnesses, canvassing for video surveillance and seizing physical evidence from the scene. The investigative team includes the Team Director, Collision Reconstructionist, Primary Investigator and those providing support to the family.

The APD has and will continue to work in cooperation with the investigation as per the MOU signed by the Chief Civilian Director and BC’s police agencies.

The IIO has reason to believe there are additional witnesses who may have been in the area at the time of the crash. We are asking that you come forward and call the IIO Infoline at 1-855-446-8477. It is important that all available and accessible information be collected and examined.

Further information related to the officer will not be provided or released by the IIO. Information related to the young affected person’s name and cause of death remain under the jurisdiction of the BC Coroners Service and as such, the IIO will not be making any comment.

Due to the preliminary stages of the investigation and the privacy issues related to the young affected person, no other information will be provided at this time.

Independent Investigations Office

kellie.kilpatrick@iiobc.ca