The introduction of information about police attempts to stop a vehicle prior to a fatal crash with West Shore RCMP Const. Sarah Beckett has prompted the Independent Investigation Office of British Columbia to join the investigation.

The criminal investigation into the April 5 crash at the intersection of Peatt Road and Goldstream Avenue is being led by the RCMP Island District General Investigations Section, while the Saanich Police Department is overseeing the collision scene investigation.

At the time of the fatal collision the RCMP notified the Independent Investigations Office, to advise them of the situation and the information available. While no investigation was launched at that time, as the investigation has progressed, the details of an attempt by police to stop the suspect vehicle prior to the collision have been provided to the Office for assessment, said RCMP 'E' Division Staff Sgt. Rob Vermeulen in a release.

On Friday the IIO confirmed it will be looking into the events leading up to the fatal collision and whether the actions or inactions of any police officer may have been a contributing factor. That investigation will be concurrent to the criminal investigation being led by the Vancouver Island GIS.

Given the parallel investigation by the IIO, the RCMP is not releasing any other information about the details surrounding the crash or the time leading up to it.

editor@goldstreamgazette.com