Quebec police watchdog investigating after vehicle crashes during pursuit

Quebec’s police watchdog is launching an investigation into a second police chase this week that ended with serious injuries.

On Thursday, at around 3:48 a.m., an officer in a patrol car saw a driver commit an alleged traffic offence in the Thérèse-De Blainville area and attempted to intercept it, the Bureau des enquêtes indépendantes (BEI) said in a news release. The driver of the vehicle fled the scene and the officer reportedly ended the pursuit.

At some point, the vehicle veered off the road and struck a hydro pole in the Mirabel area. Both occupants inside the car were taken to hospital, including one who is in critical condition.

Shortly after 7 a.m., the BEI opened an investigation into the actions of the Thérèse-De Blainville police service.

Six BEI investigators have been assigned to investigate the circumstances surrounding the police intervention.

Deadly police chase on Wednesday

The incident comes one day after a deadly police chase near Montreal, which the BEI is also investigating.

In that case, police were intercepting a vehicle that lost control and then plunged into the Rivière Delisle, near Côteau-du-Lac, Que. Two occupants inside the vehicle were taken to hospital and were later pronounced dead.