Saskatchewan’s police watchdog agency is investigating after a man died after being hit by an officer driving an RCMP vehicle this week.
Around 1:45 a.m. on Thursday, Buffalo Narrows RCMP were called regarding a domestic disturbance at a home in Turnor Lake, about 500 kilometres northwest of Saskatoon, the Saskatchewan Serious Incident Response Team said in a Friday news release.
Two officers, each in their own marked RCMP truck, responded to the call, SIRT’s release said.
While still responding to that call, another call came injust before 3 a.m. about a man lying on the road on Highway 155, south of Buffalo Narrows. Another person called just after 3 a.m., saying the man on the highway had previously been struck by a vehicle, according to the police watchdog.
One of the officers left Turnor Lake and headed southbound on Highway 909, toward Buffalo Narrows. The second officer followed a short time after.
While travelling south on Highway 909 through what SIRT said were foggy conditions, the first RCMP vehicle hit a 31-year-old man on the highway.
The officers provided first aid and called paramedics, who arrived and declared the man dead at the scene.
Police determined the 31-year-old man was not the same person who had been reported in the previous calls about a person lying on Highway 155.
In an email to CBC, RCMP said that man was involved in a hit and run. He was taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
Neither the driver involved in that collision nor their vehicle have been found, RCMP said.
SIRT says it was notified by the RCMP about the fatal collision involving the 31-year-old just after 6 a.m. on Thursday, and has launched an investigation.
A community liaison will also be appointed as per The Police Act, under which SIRT is required to appoint a First Nations or Métis community liaison officer in matters that involve a person of First Nations or Métis ancestry.
The Saskatchewan Serious Incident Response Team is an independent, civilian-led unit mandated to investigate serious incidents involving police in Saskatchewan.
It said Friday a final report will be issued to the public within 90 days of the investigation ending, but no other information will be provided at this point.