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British Columbia’s Independent Investigation Office (IIO) has announced it will look into this month’s crash that killed RCMP Const. Sarah Beckett, after learning police had tried to stop the truck that ended up striking her cruiser.
The criminal investigation continues to be led by the RCMP Island District, while the Saanich Police Department are overseeing the collision scene investigation..
Today the IIO BC confirmed they will be conducting an concurrent, independent investigation into the events leading up to the fatal collision and whether the action or inaction of any police officer may have been a contributing factor.
A regimental funeral was held this Tuesday for the fallen officer.
Eye-witness Jordan Coons says it was his impression that the suspect vehicle was being chased by police prior to the fatal collision that claimed the life of Constable Beckett.
“What caught my attention was the sound of his truck and the rate of speed he was coming at. It was my initial impression when that happened that he was basically either being chased or they were trying to do some sort of cut off maneuver.”
When asked what gave him that impression,
“Like as soon as everything happened and we started kind of realizing what was happening, immediately there was just a lot of officers on scene, very very fast.”
He adds the cruiser behind it didn’t have its sirens on.
Coons says he attended the funeral procession for Beckett and says he is having a hard time getting over the “horrible thing” he witnessed.
The 32-year-old mother of two had recently returned from maternity leave.
Just yesterday, Mounties had issued another appeal for witnesses who saw the incident.
A separate criminal investigation conducted by Saanich Police is still ongoing.
Agencies/Canadajournal
