RCMP Officer Cleared in North Kentville Crash

The province's Serious Incident Response Team (SiRT) has concluded that no charges will be laid against an RCMP officer who pursued a motor vehicle last August.

At approximately 2:20 a.m., on August 25, 2019 an officer with the New Minas Detachment noticed a vehicle being driven without its headlights on in the rear of a drinking establishment and then on the highway. As the vehicle passed by the officer’s vehicle which was travelling in the opposite direction, it was partially over the centre line forcing the officer to veer onto the shoulder. Suspecting the operator might be impaired, the officer turned to follow the vehicle. The officer activated his emergency equipment in an attempt to initiate a traffic stop. As the officer got closer to the vehicle, it accelerated through an intersection and lost control, striking a cement retaining wall. The driver and a passenger of the vehicle were taken to Valley Regional Hospital, where the driver was later pronounced deceased.  The passenger sustained non life-threatening injuries. 

The evidence showed this fatal accident was caused by the impairment of the operator and excessive speed in an attempt to flee the police. The pursuit occurred on a road that was clear with good driving conditions.  The officer’s actions were reasonable in the circumstances, and an appropriate attempt to stop an impaired driver.

The full 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 Felix Cacchione.

Media Contact:

Felix Cacchione

Director

902-718-9707