Police watchdog takes over investigation into Surrey police-involved crash

British Columbia's Independent Investigations Office has taken over an investigation into a collision involving a Surrey Police Service vehicle and a civilian vehicle that left a pedestrian seriously injured.

Surrey Police Service said the collision occurred early Monday near 96 Avenue and King George Boulevard, involving an SPS vehicle and a black Chevrolet Avalanche pickup truck. Police said the pickup driver had failed to stop for officers.

A short time later, the pickup crashed separately into a concrete SkyTrain guideway support on King George Boulevard near Holland Commons, injuring its driver. At about 3 a.m., a pedestrian was struck as a result of the collision involving the police vehicle and pickup truck and was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries. The pickup driver was also taken to hospital with serious, non-life-threatening injuries.

SPS officers, Surrey Fire Service crews and BC Emergency Health Services paramedics responded. SPS said it notified the IIO shortly after the incident. The IIO investigates officer-related incidents in British Columbia involving serious harm or death, whether or not police wrongdoing is alleged.