2 dead after police chase involving allegedly stolen vehicle in Abbotsford
Two people are dead and B.C.'s police watchdog is investigating following a police pursuit that ended in a horrific crash.
Abbotsford police say the incident began at around 3 p.m. Sunday.
Officers spotted an allegedly stolen vehicle, a 1991 White Acura Integra. near Livingston Avenue and Maclure Road.
They lost sight of the car not long after so no attempts to stop the vehicle were made.
A little over an hour later, officers relocated it in the area of Hillcrest Avenue and Emerson Street.
“Contact was made between police vehicles and the stolen vehicle and based on information that the vehicle was involved in a recent violent crime in another jurisdiction, a decision to enter a police pursuit was authorized,” said Sgt. Paul Walker of the Abbotsford Police Department in a news release.
Police have not provided details on what crime was or where it happened.
During the police pursuit, the alleged stolen vehicle lost control, crashing on Maclure Road near Clearbrook Road.
“No other civilians or civilian cars were involved in the collision,” wrote Walker.
The woman in the passenger seat of the Acura died on scene.
The driver was taken to hospital, but he later died as well.
The crumpled Acura was barely recognizable as it was towed away from the scene covered by a blue tarp.
A police vehicle was also taken away on a tow truck.
The AbbyPD Major Crime Unit and Integrated Collision Analysis Reconstruction Service are investigating.
Faisal Waheed lives next to the crash scene and says he heard a screech quickly followed by lots of sirens.
“It was pretty loud and there were a lot of police,'' said Waheed.
He looked over his back fence to see what had happened and saw police standing around a badly damaged car in the median.
“They were wrapping up a body,” he described.
Because officers were involved in the moments leading up to the crash, the Independent Investigations Office of B.C. is now investigating too.
“Certainly the risk the individuals in the car pose to the public, if they're not caught, is a very relevant factor in determining the potential justification for a pursuit and actions of police taken during that pursuit,” said Ronald MacDonald, the chief civilian director of the Independent Investigations Office.
MacDonald declined to provide more details about the circumstances of the crash in order to avoid impacting the memories of any potential witnesses.
“There will be some complex issues, as there often are with pursuit cases, we will look at those very carefully and make a decision in the due course,” MacDonald told CTV News.
Anyone in the area at the time of the crash who may have dashcam video or information is asked to contact the Abbotsford Police Department at 604-859-5225.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
'Sophisticated' cyberattacks detected on B.C. government networks, premier says
There has been a "sophisticated" cybersecurity breach detected on B.C. government networks, Premier David Eby confirmed Wednesday evening.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs to start for Canucks in Game 1 vs. Oilers
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs will start in net for the Canucks as Vancouver kicks off a second-round series against the Edmonton Oilers Wednesday night.
Nijjar murder suspect says he had Canadian study permit in immigration firm's video
One of the Indian nationals accused of murdering British Columbia Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar says in a social media video that he received a Canadian study permit with the help of an Indian immigration consultancy.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.