IIO says speed, alcohol contributed to fatal crash on Hwy 1 east of Kamloops

An investigation into a fatal accident between a motorcycle and police vehicle has concluded and Kamloops Mounties have been cleared of any wrongdoing.

On Thursday, the Independent Investigations Office of BC released a statement that said speed and alcohol appear to have been contributing factors into the collision that happened on Highway 1 near Holman Road in July 2022.

At the time, a police vehicle was parked in a westbound travel lane on the highway with its lights activated while helping Fire Services in an unrelated incident.

According to the provincial police watchdog the fire vehicles also had their lights activated.

The statement says a male motorcyclist collided with the back end of the unoccupied police vehicle before then colliding with the back of a fire truck parked nearby.

The rider sustained serious injuries in the collision and later died in the Royal Inland Hospital on Aug. 1.

“The Chief Civilian Director has reviewed the evidence – including forensic scene analysis, video footage, civilian witness statements, and hospital and police records – and determined that neither police actions nor inaction contributed to the man’s tragic death,” says the IIO.

According to the police watchdog, more than 100 vehicles safely passed the emergency vehicles within about 20 minutes.

“The police vehicle was parked safely with lights activated to direct traffic around the various emergency vehicles at the scene,” the investigators conclude.

Thumbnail photo credit: IIO of BC