Kamloops RCMP cleared in motorcyclist’s death

BC's police watchdog found a speeding motorcyclist may have been drunk when he collided with an RCMP cruiser in Kamloops.

On July 22, the rider struck the parked cruiser on Highway 1, after which he was taken to hospital. He died in hospital less than two weeks later.

The Independent Investigations Office was called to determine whether police played any role in the man's death. The watchdog agency cleared officers of any suspicion that they contributed to his death, according to a Dec. 21 news release.

The police vehicle was parked in a westbound highway lane with its lights flashing, as RCMP were at the scene near Holman Road to help firefighters with an unrelated incident, which was not described in the news release.

Fire trucks also had their lights flashing, and more than 100 vehicles safely passed emergency vehicles at the scene within a 20 minute period, according to the news release.

The man on the motorcycle then struck the back of an unoccupied police vehicle, before then colliding with the back end of a fire truck. He was taken to hospital where he died of his injuries on Aug. 1.

"The police vehicle was parked safely with lights activated to direct traffic around the various emergency vehicles at the scene," the news release reads, going on to say speed and alcohol "appear" to have contributed.

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