B.C.'s police watchdog is investigating a crash in Langford that claimed the life of a 32-year-old Mountie earlier this month.
The RCMP issued a statement Friday afternoon announcing that the Independent Investigations Office had launched a probe into the April 5 collision that killed Const. Sarah Beckett.
Mounties notified the IIO on the day it happened, but the watchdog didn’t decide to get involved until information came to light about police trying to stop the suspect vehicle prior to the crash, according to the RCMP.
“They will be conducting an independent investigation into the events leading up to the fatal collision and whether the actions or inactions of any police officer may have been a contributing factor,” the force said in a statement.
The West Shore RCMP detachment held a press conference hours after the crash, and was asked whether a pursuit had taken place.
“At this point I can’t go into any details of the investigation whatsoever,” said Chief Supt. Ray Bernoties, District Commander of the Vancouver Island RCMP.
The RCMP Island District General Investigations Section has an ongoing criminal investigation into the crash, while the Saanich Police Department is overseeing the collision scene investigation.
The fatal crash occurred at the intersection of Peatt Road and Goldstream Avenue, at approximately 3:30 a.m.
Beckett, a mother of two, died as a result of the crash, and was remembered in a regimental funeral on Tuesday.
