Manitoba IIU investigating after attempted traffic stop ends in crash

A Winnipeg police vehicle is photographed at a scene in Winnipeg, Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/David Lipnowski

Manitoba’s police watchdog is investigating after an attempted traffic stop in Winnipeg led to a car colliding with a light standard on Chief Peguis Trail.

The Winnipeg Police Service (WPS) said the incident happened Monday at around 11:30 p.m.

Officers saw a vehicle speed by their parked cruiser near Henderson Highway and Johnson Avenue.

Police switched on their sirens and tried to initiate a traffic stop, but the vehicle sped away.

Officers tried to follow but lost sight of the vehicle.

The police helicopter was able to track it down, telling officers on the ground it had rear-ended another vehicle and collided with a light standard on the northwest corner of Chief Peguis Trail and Henderson Highway, rendering the vehicle inoperable.

Officers say a passenger in the vehicle ran away, but they were able to apprehend him. Meanwhile, the driver was trapped and needed help from the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service to get out.

Both were taken to hospital for medical treatment.

The collision caused road closures along Chief Peguis Trail during the Tuesday morning commute.

Police say the driver sustained injuries in the crash that required notification to the Independent Investigation Unit of Manitoba (IIU).

IIU seeking witnesses, video footage of collision

The IIU has now taken over the investigation, WPS said.

According to the agency, the driver of the vehicle sustained a fracture to his leg and suffered hypothermia because of the time it took to extract him from the vehicle.

As a broken leg is defined as a serious injury under IIU regulations, the organization is mandated to investigate.

The IIU asks witnesses or anyone who has information or video footage that could help with the investigation to contact them at 1-844-667-6060.

- With files from CTV’s Kayla Rosen