Police watchdog investigating Highway 1 collision near Chase

B.C.'s police watchdog is investigating Kamloops RCMP actions after an elderly man was injured in a collision last weekend.

Police were warned the man was planning a "lengthy" drive on Sunday, Oct. 16, and around three hours later he was in a head-on collision on the Trans-Canada Highway in Chase. He was airlifted to hospital after the collision.

The Independent Investigations Office of B.C. is investigating whether police action or inaction played a role in the collision.

Kamloops RCMP got the call around 8:30 a.m. on Sunday. A person was concerned about his planned drive, according to a news release from the independent investigation office.

The man was in a head-on collision near Chase around 11:40 a.m., where he was seriously injured.

The people in the other vehicle had minor injuries.

The elderly man's injuries "may meet the threshold" for serious harm defined in the Police Act, the independent investigation office said.

Investigators are asking any person with relevant information or video footage regarding the incident to please contact the Witness Line toll-free 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 B.C. 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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