IIO called to Terrace for investigation of weekend incident

An interaction with members of the Terrace RCMP along a forest service road north of the city which claimed the life of a young Terrace woman, will be the subject of a review by the province's Independent Investigations Office.

In a notification bulletin from the IIO, the agency provided some background to the incident which took place along the West Kalum Forest Service Road.

Information provided by the RCMP indicates that on May 23, 2021 at approximately 5:50 p.m., officers observed three riders, two men and one woman, on an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) on West Kalum Forest Service Road. 

The officers reportedly turned on their emergency lights to stop the ATV, but the ATV went around the police vehicle and continued down the road. 

An ATV collision with a tree was reported to Emergency Health Services just after 6:15 p.m., and police attended to assist. The ATV is believed to be same one police had attempted to stop a short time before. 

All three of the riders were transported to the hospital. The two men were treated for non-life-threatening injuries, while the woman sustained life-threatening injuries and was transferred to a larger hospital. 

The IIO will investigate to determine what role, if any, police actions or inaction may have played in the incident.

The IIO has since updated their original statement to reflect the passing of the young woman from her injuries. 

As indicated in the previous release, a woman sustained life-threatening injuries in an ATV incident in Terrace on May 23, 2021 near Hart Farm on the West Kalum Forest Service Road. The IIO has confirmed that the woman was sadly declared deceased on the evening of May 25. 

 The IIO investigation continues to determine what role, if any, police actions may have played.

An incident north of Terrace on the West Kalum Forest
Service Road will be investigate by the IIO

The young woman, A Terrace resident was transferred to a Kelowna Hospital and later passed away owing to the injuries suffered as a result of the collision with the tree.

 

Should anyone have relevant information to the incident they are asked to contact the Witness Line toll free a 1-855-446-8477 or to use the contact form on the IIO website

The IIO is called in to investigate all police officer related incidents that result in serious harm or death, whether or not there is any allegation of wrongdoing.

The Terrace RCMP had previously outlined further details related to the May 23rd incident through their information page.

More notes on the calls of Emergency Responders across the Northwest can be explored here.