FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. – An investigation into the actions of Fort St. John RCMP is underway after an incident in Wonowon that resulted in a woman’s death.
Mounties say they located the woman at a Petro Canada gas station on Highway 97 after receiving a report just after 7 p.m. Tuesday that she was “intoxicated and suicidal” while travelling northbound on the highway.
The detachment says officers tried to speak with her, but she drove away. A traffic stop was later attempted, but officers say she failed to stop for police.
Police say her vehicle was located on Highway 97 upright in a ditch, with the woman outside her vehicle and unconscious. Despite life-saving efforts by a resident and ambulance personnel, the woman died at the scene, RCMP said.
The highway was closed for several hours following the incident.
BC RCMP then reported the incident to the Independent Investigations Office of British Columbia. The agency is now investigating to determine whether police actions are linked to the woman’s death.
As the matter is now under investigation by the IIO BC, no further information will be released by police.
