Vancouver Police Vehicle Hits Pedestrian, Causing Serious Injuries – BC

The Independent Investigations Office (IIO) is currently looking into a collision that occurred in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver early Tuesday morning. The incident involved a Vancouver police vehicle and a pedestrian, leaving the pedestrian hospitalized with serious injuries.

The collision took place around 12:30 a.m. at East Hastings Street near Dunlevy Avenue. It is still unclear whether the police vehicle had its lights and sirens activated at the time of the incident. The area where the collision occurred has a speed limit of 30 km/h.

This is not the first time such an incident has happened in the area. Just earlier this month, a Vancouver police officer was found guilty of driving without due care and attention for hitting a pedestrian on the same street in 2022, resulting in serious injuries to the pedestrian. The officer was fined $2,300 for the offense.

The IIO’s role is to investigate all interactions with police that lead to serious injury or death, regardless of whether there are allegations of wrongdoing. This collision adds to the ongoing scrutiny of police conduct in the city and raises questions about pedestrian safety in the Downtown Eastside.

As the investigation unfolds, the community awaits answers and hopes for accountability in ensuring the safety of all residents, especially vulnerable road users in high-traffic areas like the Downtown Eastside.