Police watchdog to probe fatal weekend crash near Logan Lake

B.C.’s police watchdog is looking into a crash that killed three people near Logan Lake Sunday (July 23).

The collision took place just before 11:30 a.m. Sunday, on Highway 97D just outside the community. RCMP say it involved two vehicles. The two male drivers as well as a female passenger died at the scene.

In a news release, the Independent Investigations Office of B.C. (IIO) says it will investigate whether police action or inaction contributed to the crash.

The IIO says earlier that morning, at about 6:25 a.m., RCMP received a call from the Best Western in Merritt stating that a man had damaged a room in the hotel and staff wanted help ejecting him from the property.

RCMP report the man was cooperative and left the hotel at about 10:00 a.m. after speaking to officers.

Police say the same man was the driver and lone occupant of one of the vehicles involved in the crash near Logan Lake.

Because RCMP officers spoke to the man shortly before the deadly crash, the IIO was notified.

Anyone with relevant information, including video footage, related to the incident is asked to contact the Independent Investigations Office of B.C. at 1 (855) 446-8477.