B.C.’s civilian police watchdog has cleared officers of any wrongdoing in a collision in Victoria that left a taxi driver dead last fall.
The crash happened shortly before 1 a.m. on Oct. 19, after Victoria police tried to pull over a Nissan Titan on Courtney Street.
The Independent Investigations Office (IIO) said the pickup truck refused to stop, and was later involved in a collision with a BC Transit Bus and a taxi at the intersection of Douglas and Humboldt streets.
The taxi driver died at the scene.
He was later identified as 24-year-old Rajinder “Ronnie” Singh, who was juggling multiple jobs to help support his ailing parents in India.
On Friday, the IIO said a review of forensic, witness and video evidence determined that the officers were acting lawfully when they tried to stop the truck.
“The Titan drove away quickly, and the officers did not engage in a high-speed pursuit,” the IIO said in a media release.
“Their actions are not responsible for the taxi driver’s tragic death.”
The driver of the Nissan has not been identified, but Victoria police say they have forwarded a report to prosecutors recommending charges.
An online crowdfunding campaign for Singh has raised nearly $67,000.