B.C. police watchdog recommends charges against officer in Abbotsford crash

Three people are in hospital after a crash involving a police car near the intersection of King Road and Gladwin Road in Abbotsford.

British Columbia’s police watchdog is recommending charges against an Abbotsford police officer who was involved in a crash that left another driver seriously injured.

The Independent Investigations Office of B.C. says the officer, who has not been identified publicly, was injured in the collision last year. One other officer in the vehicle also sustained non-life-threatening injuries, according to the agency.

The civilian driver of a GMC Envoy was airlifted to hospital after colliding with the police SUV near the Abbotsford intersection of King and Gladwin roads on Feb. 20, 2025.

The officers were engaged in an unrelated investigation when the crash occurred, the IIO said in a statement Friday.

The IIO’s chief civilian director has reviewed the evidence and determined that “reasonable grounds exist to believe that an officer may have committed driving-related offences,” the office said.

The police oversight agency has submitted its findings to the B.C. Prosecution Service for consideration of charges under the province’s Motor Vehicle Act.

To approve charges, prosecutors must be satisfied there is a substantial likelihood of conviction based on the evidence, and that prosecution is in the public interest.

“While the matter is with Crown, the IIO will not be making any additional comment about the facts of this case,” the agency said.

The IIO investigates all police-related incidents that result in serious harm or death in B.C., whether or not there is any allegation of wrongdoing by police.