UPDATE: The investigation into the fatal collision that killed Cst. Sarah Beckett remains active.
Police are asking any witnesses that have not yet spoken to them to get in touch. Investigators are seeking witnesses that may have been driving on Peatt Road or in the area of Goldstream Avenue in Langford in the early morning hours of April 5 between 3 a.m. and 4 a.m. and may have seen the vehicles involved.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Cst. Kelly Mobbs Island District GIS 250-995-7726 or Crime Stoppers.
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Condolences are pouring in for an RCMP officer killed in the line of duty Tuesday morning in Langford.
Cst. Sarah Beckett, 32, of the West Shore Detachment in ‘E’ Division died in a crash at an intersection around 3:30 a.m.
Jordan Coons was the first person on the scene after watching events unfold from his deck.
He said he saw a truck “flying up the road at a high rate of speed” and then it “blew the red light and T-boned this officer.”
“I just ran up to the car and did our best to kind of see if she was OK and try and get the truck off of her.”
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“The truck’s bumper was up into her window. There was a lot of fluids running. It was quite a scene.”
Coons said he was asked to stay with the driver of the truck when first responders arrived on scene to make sure he was OK and he didn’t take off.
“I have two young children myself, so one of the things that was quite difficult also, I know she has a young family too,” added Coons.
Mounties were still gathering facts to determine what happened, according to Chief Supt. Ray Bernoties, but a criminal investigation was being conducted by the RCMP and the Saanich Police Department was investigating the circumstances of the collision.
The driver is now is custody. He did suffer some injuries but they are not considered life-threatening.
WATCH: B.C. RCMP constable killed in car crash
Beckett joined the RCMP in 2005 and spent 11 years in British Columbia, posted to the Port McNeill, Langford Municipal, Colwood and West Shore Detachments. She leaves behind her husband and two young children. She had only recently returned from maternity leave.
“Her family must now start to deal with this absolute tragedy,” Bernoties said.
“They ask for privacy as they grieve.”
WATCH: Chief Superintendent Ray Bernoties reads an emotional statement to the media Tuesday morning.
A GoFundMe campaign has been set up to help Beckett’s family through this difficult time.
Canada’s public safety minister, Ralph Goodale, expressed his sympathies and offered his condolences to Beckett’s family, friends and colleagues.
“The death of a police officer is a stark reminder of the sacrifices and bravery of our police women and men who put themselves in harm’s way each and every day to keep our communities safe,” Goodale said in a statement.
Tributes were posted on social media.
RCMP say the area will be closed to traffic until at least 2 p.m. while investigators are at the scene.
– With files from Jon Azpiri and The Canadian Press
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