B.C.’s police watchdog investigating after attempted North Okanagan traffic stop turns into deadly crash

ARMSTRONG – A man is dead and a woman is hurt after their vehicle crashed as police tried to pull it over between Vernon and Armstrong.

A statement from RCMP says an officer from the Vernon North Okanagan detachment spotted the light-coloured Mazda 6 near Armstrong – on Highway 97A southbound between Powerhouse and McCallan Roads – just after 3 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 25, and suspected it was stolen.

It crashed into a shallow ditch minutes later, killing the driver and injuring the female passenger.

The Independent Investigations Office, which examines all police-involved deaths or serious injures in B.C., confirms it has been called.

It says a team will determine whether police actions or inactions contributed to the death.

The BC Coroners Service is also carrying out its own investigation.

The IIO is asking any person who saw, heard or recorded the incident to contact the IIO Witness Line toll-free at 1-855-446-8477 or via the contact form on the IIO website here.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 26, 2020.