Manitoba’s Police watchdog the Independent Investigation Unit (IIU) has cleared a Winnipeg Police officer of any wrongdoing in a collision with a pedestrian this past October.
According to the IIU the officer was in his private vehicle when he hit a pedestrian crossing Portage Avenue at Langside Street. It happened on October 10, 2017. A 46-year-old woman was walking southbound across Portage when the light turned green to eastbound traffic. The woman started jogging across the street but was unable to see the officer’s approaching car in the curb lane because her view was obstructed by a transit bus in the second lane from the curb. Likewise, the officer’s view of the pedestrian was also blocked by the transit bus.
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Investigators from the IIU reviewed video of the incident from nearby businesses and Winnipeg Transit and interviewed several witnesses.
In his findings, IIU Civilian Director Zane Tessler determined that the collision happened ” as a direct result of the pedestrian crossing the four eastbound lanes of Portage Avenue, outside of a nearby designated crosswalk, while traffic had a green light for eastbound travel.”
Tessler added that there was no bad driving on the part of the officer and based on the evidence it was impossible for the officer to avoid hitting the pedestrian.
The IIU has determined no charges should be laid against the off-duty officer.
-Staff-
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