The Independent Investigations Office (IIO) of B.C. says it’s looking into an incident during which Vancouver police hit a pedestrian with a vehicle Tuesday.
In a statement, the Vancouver Police Department (VPD) confirmed the incident happened in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside.
“Officers were driving along Hastings Street just after midnight this morning when they collided with a pedestrian at Dunlevy [Avenue],” said Const. Tania Visintin.
The IIO provided few details and says it has started investigating an incident that took place around 12:30 a.m., May 21, near the intersection.
The pedestrian’s condition has not been shared by the police.
A local non-profit has started its own search for witnesses of the collision.
The Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users (VANDU), a self-described group of drug users and former users dedicated to improving the lives of drug users in the area, posted to social media Tuesday asking anyone with information to reach out.
The incident comes mere weeks after a Vancouver police officer was found guilty of charges related to a similar incident in East Hastings in 2022.
Const. Jack Zhao had been charged with one count of driving a motor vehicle without due care and attention, but he was found not guilty.
On May 3, 2024, he was found guilty of excessive speeding relative to conditions.
He was also initially charged with failing to exercise due care to avoid colliding with a pedestrian, and speeding, but those charges were stayed.