Victoria, BC – A Patrol officer is recovering after his police van was struck by an impaired driver early this morning.
Patrol officers, along with BC Emergency Health Services Paramedics and Victoria Fire Department firefighters, were called to the intersection of Cook Street and Dallas Road just before 3 a.m. this morning for a collision between a police van and a car. When they arrived, they discovered the Patrol officer driving the van and the occupants of the vehicles suffering from non-life-threatening injuries. Early investigation indicates that the driver of the vehicle failed to stop at the stop sign the intersection and collided with the Patrol van.
The officer was transported to hospital, while the driver and passenger of the car were treated at the scene, but declined transport. Investigating officers noted the driver showed signs of having consumed alcohol and requested a breath sample. The driver blew well over the limit.
“This collision underscores the risks our officers take by simply doing their jobs,” Chief Del Manak said. “Earlier in the evening this Patrol shift responded to a motor vehicle collision between a motorcycle and a car that unfortunately claimed the motorcyclist’s life. A few hours later these same officers saw one of their own injured in a collision that involved an impaired driver, on the very same road. This underscores the types of harm, both physical and psychological, that our officers are exposed to on a daily basis.”
The Patrol officer is recovering. This file remains under investigation.