
The Independent Investigations Office is investigating whether police actions led to a suspected speeder crashing into a utility pole in Courtenay.
An RCMP officer was conducting traffic patrols and radar enforcement on Headquarters Road between Bridges and Rennison roads just after 12:17 p.m. Friday when they saw a vehicle speeding southbound, police say.
The officer, who was heading northbound, made a U-turn and tried to close the distance with the dark-coloured sedan. The Mounties later found the vehicle off the right side of the road following an apparent collision into a utility pole.
The person believed to be the driver was found in a ditch a few metres from the crash and was transported to hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
The RCMP is investigating the cause of the collision while the IIO is attempting to determine whether police actions led to the person’s injuries.
The IIO investigates all police-related incidents resulting in serious injury or death.