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CBRP Officer’s Action Appropriate regarding North Sydney Crash
The province's independent Serious Incident Response Team (SiRT) today released its report regarding an investigation into a February 28, 2017 motor vehicle crash in on Johnson Road near North Sydney, Cape Breton. The crash occurred after a member of the Cape Breton Regional Police (CBRP) attempted to locate a car he had seen driving erratically.
At approximately 11:15 p.m. of that day, the CBRP officer saw a vehicle driving at high speed and almost lose control on King St. in North Sydney. He lost sight of the vehicle when he turned to follow it out of North Sydney. He drove along King St., and then onto Johnson Rd., in an effort to locate the vehicle. His speed averaged 50 km/h. He discovered the car overturned on Johnson Rd. just past the Lakeside Cemetery. The three occupants of the vehicle were on the side of the road. The driver suffered a serious injury to his hand, which resulted in having three fingers amputated.
The facts showed there was no pursuit of the car, and that the officer proceeded in a prudent fashion in his search for the vehicle. The accident appears to have been caused by the fact the driver of the car was impaired by alcohol, and that its speed was 130 km/h just prior to the crash. The driver has since pled guilty to driving while impaired, and flight from a police officer.
In these circumstances, there are no grounds to consider any charges against the police officer.
A complete copy of the report is available at http://sirt.novascotia.ca.
SIRT is responsible for investigating all serious incidents involving police in Nova Scotia. Investigations are under the direction and control of independent civilian director Ron MacDonald, who is solely responsible for decisions respecting the laying of any charge.
Media Contact:
Ron MacDonald, QC
Director
902-424-8400 (o)
902-718-9707 (m)
