Police watchdog says no offence committed in Shuswap RCMP traffic stop that left one dead

B.C.'s police watchdog has concluded RCMP officers did not commit an offence during a traffic stop that resulted in the death of a female passenger in Sicamous this summer.

The event took place May 20 when, during an attempted traffic stop in Sicamous, a Honda Civic went off the road and the female passenger in the vehicle was pronounced dead at the scene.

Following an examination by the Independent Investigations Office of B.C. the watchdog concluded there were no reasonable grounds to believe that any RCMP officers had committed an offence.

"Accordingly, the matter will not be referred to Crown counsel for consideration of charges," says a media release from the Independent Investigations Office.

READ MORE: B.C.'s police watchdog called to investigate RCMP involvement in fatal crash near Sicamous

According to the release, on May 20, at roughly 4 p.m., RCMP officers unsuccessfully attempted to conduct a traffic stop of a Honda Civic in Canoe, outside Salmon Arm.

Police were then told the vehicle was travelling towards Sicamous on Highway 1 and officers attempted another traffic stop using a spike belt near the Bruhn Bridge in Sicamous.

"During the attempted stop, the Honda went off the road before coming to rest nearby," the release says. "Medical assistance was provided, but the female passenger was pronounced dead at the scene. The male driver was taken to the hospital by Emergency Health Services for treatment of serious injuries."

The Independent Investigations Office states that due to ongoing court proceedings related to the incident its full report will not be released to the public until the court proceedings have concluded.

The Independent Investigations Office of B.C. is an independent civilian oversight agency of the police in the province. 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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