Man dies in downtown Vancouver crash after fleeing officers in Polaris Slingshot

A man driving a three-wheeled Polaris Slingshot died Friday after fleeing Vancouver police near Canada Place. B.C.'s IIO is investigating and seeking witnesses.

Driver dies near Canada Place after evading Vancouver police on foot

A man is dead following a motor vehicle collision in downtown Vancouver on Friday afternoon, after he drove away from officers who were attempting to speak with him, cbc.ca reports.

The Vancouver Police Department said officers on foot approached the man around 3 p.m. PT near Canada Place in connection with an alleged fraud investigation. The man, who was seated in a three-wheeled Polaris Slingshot, drove off before officers could make contact. The collision occurred less than a block away. No other injuries were reported.

The man was transported to hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

B.C.'s Independent Investigations Office (IIO) has taken over the file. The agency is called in whenever police are involved in incidents resulting in serious injury or death, regardless of whether wrongdoing is alleged.

IIO spokesperson Simon Druker said the precise sequence of events between the officers' attempt to stop the vehicle and the crash remains under investigation. "We do know the police attempted to stop the vehicle," Druker said. "The exact nature of what ensued in the time between that and the collision is something that the IIO would certainly look into."

Druker noted the incident took place in a high-traffic area on a Friday afternoon and involved a visually distinct vehicle, making it likely that multiple bystanders were present. "Information that is provided by witnesses can be crucial," he said. "We are eager to hear from them."

Anyone who witnessed the crash or who may have dashcam footage of the area near Canada Place around 3 p.m. on Friday is asked to contact the IIO directly.

Source: Google News CA — Crime (EN)