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Report released in fatal car crash
The province’s independent Serious Incident Response Team (SiRT) released its report today into a single vehicle crash that claimed the life of a 59-year-old Moncton man just before midnight on March 3, 2018. The incident occurred on Pictou Road in the community of East Mountain, Colchester County.
Shortly before 11:00 PM, the RCMP in Lower Sackville received a complaint about a possible impaired driver. Officers in the area spotted the vehicle on Hwy 102 heading north and tried to pull the vehicle over however, the driver took off at a high rate of speed. The officers, one from Lower Sackville and one from Cole Harbour, initiated a pursuit in Fall River which continued toward Enfield. Once in Enfield, an officer from Enfield and one from Colchester County took over the pursuit. Spike belts were deployed in an attempt to stop the fleeing vehicle but were unsuccessful.
The pursuit continued to Truro where the suspect vehicle took the exit to Hwy 104 and headed east towards New Glasgow. The pursuit continued on Hwy 104 to exit 18A at which time the suspect vehicle took exit 18A and started to head back towards Truro on Hwy 4. Once the fleeing vehicle left the 100 series highway, the officers followed their instructions and terminated the pursuit at 11:42 PM.
Eleven minutes later, at 11:53 PM, a caller to 911 reported a vehicle had just left the road and crashed into a tree. Officers arrived at the accident scene eight minutes later at 00:01 AM. It was apparent that the lone occupant in the vehicle was deceased and that it was the same vehicle that was involved in the pursuit earlier.
The investigation concluded that the police had terminated the pursuit well in advance of the crash and therefore were not a factor in the crash. The investigation also concluded that the officer’s actions were appropriate in the circumstances and there are no grounds to consider charges in the matter.
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, who is solely responsible for decisions respecting the laying of any charge.
Media Contact:
Felix Cacchione
Director, Serious Incident Response Team
902-424-8400 (o)
902-718-9707 (c)
