North District Probe Into City Detachment Crash Continues
Tuesday, April 17, 2012 @ 10:48 AM
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Prince George, B.C. – The investigation into Sunday night’s crash involving a Prince George detachment RCMP vehicle and a Honda at the corner of Winnipeg and 4th Avenue continues.
North District RCMP Staff Sergeant Pat McTiernan is handling the investigation, and says both vehicles are being checked for their mechanical fitness “ We’re looking at the vehicle examinations with our collision reconstructionist we’re downloading the police equipment in the vehicle to determine what electronic data might be of benefit to the investigation and we’re interviewing witnesses.”
Staff Sergeant McTiernan says neighbourhood enquiries have also been conducted to see if there were other witnesses to the crash which sent 4 people to hospital. Three from the Honda, and the police officer.
The police officer is on medical leave as he is suffering from concussion and whiplash related injuries, while two of the others have been released from hospital. One person remains in hospital suffering from internal injuries.
“We have had a chance to interview all the folks that were in the Honda. They’re all doing better. Some have been released from hospital.”
McTiernan says that at this point, speed is not believed to have been a factor, nor is there anything to suggest alcohol played a part in the crash. He adds that everyone involved was wearing a seat belt.
The investigation to date has revealed the police vehicle was northbound on Winnipeg Street, at approximately 7:58 pm, when it entered into a collision with a 2008 Honda Civic. Police are investigating indications that the police vehicle was approaching a red light. The police vehicle was not traveling with its emergency lights and siren operating. The police officer was responding to a call, but it did not require an emergency response.
“Our investigation continues, we have a team working on it, and we invite anybody who might have been in the area that night who might have seen the police truck approaching the intersection or the Honda approaching the intersection to come forward, we would certainly like to talk to those witnesses.”
The police vehicle, a 2009, Chev Suburban is a write off, valued at $26 thousand dollars. The Honda is also a write off, and a 2008 Honda would go for about $8,500.
Comments
How embarrassing. Vehicles checked for mechanical fitness? Looks to me like a fairly new truck. Any “mechanical shortcomings” wouldn’t sit well with the public who paid a lot of tax dollars for that fine looking vehicle nor the makers of said truck. The Honda? That fact that it survived along with it’s passengers speaks volumes.
Not laying blame, just throwing this thought out there… New vehicles are having to pass stricter and stricter safety regulations. The manufacturers have also lowered the bumpers position on tall trucks / vehicles to help keep them in line with smaller passenger vehicles during an accident. Does putting a large, non OEM bumper such as this on a vehicle open one up to a liability issue if someone is injured in an accident?
non OEM bumper? Reminds me of those nasty hubcaps on that chariot in the chariot race scene in Ben Hur.
In the Citizen this morning it quoted that the RCMP vehicle ran a red light, so check the Honda out for a low tire and charge the Honda driver.
Interesting. There was another accident recently involving a police suburban and a police officer not looking where he was going. He was looking at his laptop while driving through an intersection and didn’t notice traffic was stopped on the other side. Ran right into the car in front of him. I wonder if the driver is the same.
one more police vehicle to be stored at the city yard
Does the city pay for cop vehicles?
OK, gotta jump in on this one as it has alarmed me and others I have spoken to, increasingly these past months: RCMP officers obviously not paying attention (visually evident) while on a laptop or something, rolling stops, racing thru yellows, failing to signal, and SPEEDING. Seemingly have alot of hormones on wheels out there…..setting a crappy example for young people.
Followed one of the finest PG1108 off of 22nd turned left on bypass no signal light a bad intersection then turned right on 15th no signal and one lane change no signal. Would have been big tickets for me. But what the heck they are the pros.
Crack down on the cops that act like pigs on the roads. Thats basically 95 percent of them.
City doesn’t pay for police vehicles. The Crown is responsible for police vehicles and post office trucks. Can’t insure them all. Too costly. They just write them off. And carry on. As an aside, schools are not insured. What would be the monthly insurance premium on a school?
What a bunch of clowns the rcmp are. Must be nice to be able to ivestigate yourself whenever you screw up!!!! Sure would be nice to get rid of the rcmp an get an orginization in that respects the people of this province and will follow the laws we are all required to live by.
I would like to think that the average RCMP officer would obey the traffic laws – I have also observed that many do not. Do as I say, not as I do? Yes, I think it is something like that.
Just have to set some stuff straight….I spoke to an officer about these crashes and he told me that members get the same tickets that other drivers involved in these types of accidents get. It seems that most people on this site love to bash the police for every little thing. Remember if you don’t like them so much then don’t call them when you need help! What I find funny is the story about the officer the other day who swerved to miss the car that ran the redlight and avoided and accident with the other driver but smashed up the police car isn’t on here….is that because they police weren’t at fault? and therefore no one could bash them!!
Keep up the good work catching bad guys..
Yes I would be prone to giving the police the b enifit of a doubt if they would be willing to be investigated by an in dependant party. Therein lies the problem.
Really mechanical failure? Seems like the rcmp have no problem handing out blame when it is not one of their own, however look for any other hit of a cause when an officer is involved. Police are human, mistakes are made admitting their faults would go a lot further with public image then trying to cover them up time and again. Were is our new hired gun watch dog from south of the boarder!
What kinda of punishment do these officers receive when they screw up or break our laws, usually seems to be a suspension with pay!. What a joke!!
My son was in the front passenger seat of the honda. I can say without doubt, the North District RCMP are doing a very excellent job of uncovering the events of Sunday night. They have been very respectful of the impact the crash has had on the families and in my opinion provided my family all the information we needed to move forward.
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