The Independent Investigation Unit of Manitoba (IIU) has concluded its investigation into a fatal motor vehicle collision that occurred in Winnipeg on October 4, 2021.

According to the notification received on October 4, 2021, the Winnipeg Police Service (WPS) advised a traffic stop was conducted on Provencher Boulevard shortly after noon. The vehicle accelerated away at a high rate of speed, and officers followed. The vehicle crashed and killed the driver of another car, identified as affected person two (AP2). The driver of the first vehicle, identified as affected person one (AP1), crawled out of the vehicle and was arrested after trying to flee the scene.

As this matter concerned the death of a person that may have resulted from the actions of a police officer(s), IIU assumed responsibility for this mandatory investigation and IIU investigators were assigned to this investigation.

Further, the IIU was required to seek the appointment of a civilian monitor, as this matter involved the death of a person. The IIU asked the Manitoba Police Commission to appoint a civilian monitor.

Due to the limited information available at the outset of this investigation as to whether any actions by any WPS officer contributed to the collision, it was decided that no subject officer designation would be made pending receipt of more facts and evidence. AP1 refused to be interviewed.

In addition to WPS file information, other information obtained by IIU investigators included:

  • WPS radio transmissions
  • audio recording of a 911 call reporting the collision
  • WPS call history and CAD report
  • WPS Forensic Identification Services (FIS) reports and photographs
  • GPS records related to WPS cruiser involved in the attempted traffic stop
  • video statement given by AP1 to WPS officers
  • statements of various civilian witnesses
  • notes and narrative reports from witness officers
  • autopsy report relative to AP2
  • Collision Reconstruction Report
  • WPS Pursuit Policy
  • video footage taken from various locations on Provencher Blvd.
  • dash cam footage from civilian witness showing the collision

The investigation considered whether the actions of any or all of the police officers who were involved in AP1’s traffic stop caused, or in any way contributed, to the deaths of AP2.

Based on the various witness accounts, the various video footages recovered, vehicular data and the collision analysis report, there is no evidence to support a finding that there is any level of contribution by any police officer to the cause of the collision and death that resulted.

Furthermore, there is no evidence in this matter that would justify the designation of any of the police officers as a subject officer. The decision to evade police by accelerating and driving at significantly high rates of speed was the sole decision of AP1. AP1 is solely responsible for death that resulted from the collision.

As a result, there is no further requirement or need by IIU to continue with this investigation.

The final report will not be released at this time, as AP1 is currently before the courts on charges arising out of the incident.