The Serious Incident Response Team (SiRT) has concluded its investigation into a collision involving a Saint John police vehicle and a pedestrian, determining that no charges will be laid against the officer involved. The incident occurred on City Road in Saint John during the early morning hours of Jan. 19.
According to the report, the pedestrian, a 54-year-old man, entered the path of a marked police vehicle while wearing dark clothing and not using a crosswalk. Moments earlier, a truck had swerved to avoid hitting him. The collision resulted in the man sustaining serious injuries, including a traumatic brain injury, multiple fractures, and internal injuries.
Investigators noted that medical records indicated the man was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the incident. A witness said the victim frequently stood in the middle of the road while intoxicated and may have been attempting to be taken into custody at a “drunk tank.”
SiRT’s review also found the officer had been traveling at 68 km/h in a 50 km/h zone but was not driving recklessly or imprudently given the circumstances. The report concluded that the officer could not reasonably have expected a person to be standing in the lane, and therefore, his actions did not meet the criminal standard for dangerous driving.
This investigation highlights the complexities involved when law enforcement encounters individuals in distress or impaired by alcohol, and underscores the importance of careful review in incidents resulting in serious injury.