Probe clears RCMP officer in attempted traffic stop that led to woman’s death

Manitoba RCMP headquarters is shown in Winnipeg, Monday, Jan. 29, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/David Lipnowski

Manitoba’s police watchdog declined to recommend charges against an RCMP officer after a fatal collision during an attempted traffic stop last summer.

The Independent Investigation Unit of Manitoba (IIU) released the findings of its probe on Tuesday.

It was launched after a fatal collision in July 2024 on CentrePort Canada Way.

According to the RCMP, an officer driving an unmarked vehicle saw a Honda Civic travelling at 107 km/h on the roadway, where the speed limit is 70 km/h.

The officer turned on his emergency lights and attempted a traffic stop. However, the driver sped up, ran a red light at the intersection at Sturgeon Road, and collided with a semi-truck, the officer reported.

The woman driving the Civic was taken to Health Sciences Centre, where she was pronounced dead.

In investigating the death, the IIU reviewed video of the collision, officer notes, crash data, autopsy and scene photos, and a traffic analyst’s collision report. The officer and the driver of the semi-truck declined interviews with IIU investigators, the report said.

Autopsy results found there was nothing of significance detected in the woman’s blood at the time of the incident.

“There is no evidence to support a conclusion that a police officer caused the affected person’s death, either by action or inaction,” the IIU wrote in a news release.

As a result, the IIU did not recommend any charges and closed its investigation.

The full report can be read on the IIU’s website.