Penticton RCMP under investigation after car chase leads to serious injury

The province's police watchdog is investigating after a suspect crashed their vehicle while being chased by Penticton RCMP earlier this week.

The suspect was hospitalized with serious injuries following the crash on Penticton Avenue near Government Street in Penticton, according to an RCMP media release. The Independent Investigation Office of BC was notified after the crash.

It all started when RCMP responded to complaints about suspicious people and vehicles in the 100 block of Brooks Place at around 3:38 a.m. Tuesday, June 20.

Officers showed up and located two vehicles but both fled. The same vehicles were later spotted near Killarney Avenue and Forestbrook Drive and they took off again.

With officers in pursuit, one of the drivers became involved in a single-vehicle collision on Penticton Avenue near Government Street.

The driver was found unresponsive but breathing, according to the IIO. He was transported to hospital where his condition deteriorated and he was transferred to a regional hospital for additional care.

No one else was involved in the crash and he was the only person injured.

RCMP said no further information will be released to the public as the IIO investigates.

The IIO investigation will determine what role, if any, police actions for inactions had in the collision and the man's resulting injuries.

Anyone with relevant information or video footage of the incident is asked to contact the IIO witness line at 1-855-446-8477 or via the contact form on the iiobc.ca website.

The IIO is the Independent civilian oversight agency of the police in BC. It investigates all officer-related incidents that result in serious harm or death, whether or not there is any allegation of wrongdoing.

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