The Independent Investigations Office has cleared a Victoria police officer of any wrongdoing in a high-speed 4-car collision that sent 3 people to hospital, one with multiple injuries.
The crash happened at the intersection of Bay and Government streets, just after midnight on August 24th.
The Police Watchdog conducts investigations into all police-involved incidents.
According to the report, an officer spotted a white pickup truck near Gorge Road East and Rock Bay Avenue, and activated the emergency lights on his marked cruiser to stop the driver.
The truck accelerated down Rock Bay Avenue, with the officer pursuing for up to 3 blocks before calling off the chase.
The pickup continued south, turning left onto Bay, then running a red light at Government, slamming into 3 vehicles and narrowly missing a cyclist. The driver fled on foot but was arrested several blocks away.
Chief Civilian Director Ronald J. MacDonald examined witness accounts, closed-circuit video recordings, and police records, concluding the officer did no more than attempt a traffic stop, and made the appropriate decision to end the pursuit when the truck fled at high speed.
MacDonald concludes what happened after that was the direct result of the actions of the pick-up’s driver.
The victim that suffered multiple injuries was off work for a number of weeks with a broken ankle, lacerations, muscle damage, bruising and more.