(JOHN MCDONALD / iNFOnews.ca)
September 09, 2020 - 5:07 PM
The province's police watchdog is investigating after the a body of a man who ran from police during a roadside impaired driving test near Lytton was found days later in the Fraser River.
The Independent Investigations Office of B.C. said in a media release an RCMP officer stopped a red 1994 Ford Ranger on the Trans-Canada Highway about one kilometre south of Lytton, Aug. 12, at approximately 10:30 p.m.
The officer attempted to administer an impaired driving test on the driver, who fled on foot across the highway.
On Aug. 18, a body was recovered in the Fraser River near Hope and on Sept. 3 the body was identified as the man who fled from the traffic stop.
The independent investigation office will determine if the officer's actions or inactions played a role in the man's death. The B.C. Coroner's Service is also conducting an investigation to determine the cause of the man's death.
The man is described as 5'9" tall, 140 lbs. and was was wearing a black long-sleeved shirt, black shorts and sandals.
Anyone who saw, heard or recorded the incident on Aug. 12, or saw a man meeting description between Aug. 12 and 18, is asked to contact the Witness Line toll free at 1-855-446-8477 or use the contact form on at the Independent Investigation Office of B.C. website here.
The Independent Investigation Office of B.C. is the independent civilian oversight agency of police forces in B.C. It investigates all officer-related incidents that result in serious harm or death, regardless of allegations of wrongdoing.
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