Mountie among 5 injured in serious crash involving police cruiser in Coquitlam – Global News

Mountie 1 of 5 injured in 4 car pile-up in Coquitlam

Coquitlam RCMP were on scene Saturday evening at a serious collision at Lougheed Highway and Westwood Street.

Police confirm five cars were involved in the crash, including a Coquitlam RCMP cruiser. The collision occurred around 5:45 p.m., they added.

The Criminal Collision Investigation Team and the Independent Investigations Office are looking into what happened. Usually the IIO looks into police-involved incidents that result in death or serious injury.

READ MORE: 13-year-old girl killed, 6-year-old boy hurt in Coquitlam crash that sent car into median where 5 kids were standing

Luckily, nobody was seriously injured in the crash. Police also say there’s no evidence of impaired or distracted driving, and all drivers involved are cooperating with the investigation.

RCMP later said the police cruiser had its sirens and emergency lights on while heading to an incident, when it was struck by a vehicle. That collision caused the other three vehicles to crash.

The officer was on route to an incident when the first crash occurred at Lougheed Highway and Westwood Street, according to a Coquitlam RCMP news release.

“The Coquitlam RCMP would like to use this unfortunate event to remind the public to always be aware that emergency vehicles could be passing through intersections at any time,” Vadik said in a statement.

“Regardless of what colour intersection light you have, always be aware of hazards. Both legitimate or otherwise.”

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The Criminal Collision Investigation Team has been called in as officials look into the cause of the crash.

Around 5:45 p.m. Saturday Coquitlam Police were responding to a call, but despite emergency lights and sirens on, they were one of five vehicles struck at the intersection of Lougheed Highway and Westwood Street.

While drunk driving was initially raised as a possibility, RCMP later said there is “currently no evidence” of impaired or distracted driving.

COQUITLAM (NEWS 1130) – Five people, including a police officer, have been taken to hospital after a crash in Coquitlam Saturday evening, prompting B.C. police watchdog to investigate.

Anyone who witnessed the crash or has dashcam footage is asked to contact Coquitlam RCMP and ask for Const. Bauldry of the Criminal Collision Investigation Team.

Officers are using this opportunity to tell drivers to be extra aware around intersections, and remember that emergency vehicles could be passing through them at any time.

Five people, including an RCMP officer, were taken to hospital on Saturday after a crash involving four vehicles in Coquitlam.

The Independent Investigations Office of B.C., which looks into all police-involved situations in which someone is injured, has been called in.

Staff Sgt. Paul Vadik, the watch commander at the Coquitlam detachment, said all the people taken to hospital were being treated for non-life threatening injuries.

The intersection had been blocked off for an investigation by the Criminal Collision Investigation Team, but has since opened.

Acording to a written statement from police, the collision occurred just before 5:47 p.m. on Saturday at the intersection of Westwood Road and Lougheed Highway.

Impaired or distracted driving are not thought to be factors here, and everyone involved is co-operating with police.

While they were en route, a collision occurred with a vehicle passing through the intersection. That first collision between the police car and the vehicle caused three other vehicles to be struck.

A criminal crash investigation team has been called into to figure out what happened. There is currently no evidence of impaired or distracted driving.

"Coquitlam RCMP would like to use this unfortunate event to remind the public to always be aware that emergency vehicles could be passing through intersections at any time. Regardless of what colour intersection light you have, always be aware of hazards," police wrote in a statement.

If anyone has dash camera footage or witnessed the collision first hand, please call the Coquitlam RCMP at 604-945-1550 and ask for Constable Bauldry of the Criminal Collision Investigation Team.

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