IIO investigating after man driving construction vehicle shot, seriously injured by police in Duncan, B.C.
A man was taken to hospital with serious injuries following a police shooting in Duncan, B.C., on Tuesday evening.
Around 9:15 p.m., the North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP say they received a report that a man appeared to be impaired while driving a skid-steer loader on a residential street.
Parkside Place in Duncan, B.C., is pictured on March 29, 2023. (CTV News)
Police say they tracked down the construction vehicle and tried to get the driver to stop, but were unable to do so.
Mounties say there were "several collisions" between the skid-steer and police cruisers during the incident.
A witness tells CTV News that police were ramming and chasing the vehicle along Somenos Road near Evans Park around 9:40 p.m.
The witness adds that the construction vehicle could be heard driving around the neighbourhood before police arrived.
"During the interaction that followed, one officer discharged their weapon, striking the driver," said RCMP in a release Wednesday.
"Emergency Health Services were called and the man was transported to hospital with serious injuries."
The construction vehicle is pictured. (CTV News)
Mounties contacted the Independent Investigations Office (IIO) of B.C. following the shooting.
The IIO confirmed it has deployed a team to the Duncan area to review the police-involved shooting.
"It is reported that there was contact between the loader and police vehicles. An interaction followed, and shots were fired by police," the IIO said in a statement Wednesday afternoon.
"The man was transported to a hospital for treatment of a serious, life-threatening injury."
The construction vehicle is pictured. (CTV News)
The IIO is called whenever a police-involved incident results in serious harm or death, regardless of if there have been allegations of wrongdoing.
The RCMP say they will not release further information on the incident since it is now under review by the IIO.
The IIO is asking anyone with information or video of the incident to contact the organization's witness line at 1-855-446-8477 or use the contact form on the iiobc.ca website
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
What about Kristen, Leslie's rights, asks lawyer for Bernardo victims after transfer
Paul Bernardo should be returned to a maximum-security prison, the lawyer representing the families of his young murder victims said as he called on the Correctional Service of Canada to be more transparent about what led to his transfer to a medium-security facility in the first place.

Prince Harry a no-show on first day of court showdown with British tabloid publisher
Prince Harry's phone hacking trial against the publisher of the Daily Mirror kicked off Monday without him present -- and the judge was not happy.
No survivors found after plane that flew over DC and led to fighter jet scramble crashes in Virginia
A wayward and unresponsive business plane that flew over the nation's capital Sunday afternoon caused the military to scramble a fighter jet before the plane crashed in Virginia, officials said. The fighter jet caused a loud sonic boom that was heard across the capital region.
U.S. beats Canada 6-1, nets World Para hockey gold
Special teams played a difference on Sunday night as the United States scored two short-handed goals en route to a 6-1 victory over Canada in the World Para Hockey Championship gold-medal game.
Increase in mosquitoes 'a trend' across Canada this year. Here's why
Mosquitoes have always been pesky, but this spring it seems the bloodsuckers are thirstier than ever, a trend one expert says is increasing.
What to know as Prince Harry prepares for court fight with British tabloid publisher
Prince Harry is set to testify in the first of his five pending legal cases largely centred around battles with British tabloids. Opening statements are scheduled Monday in his case.
Apple is expected to unveil a sleek, pricey headset. Is it the device VR has been looking for?
Apple appears poised to unveil a long-rumoured headset that will place its users between the virtual and real world, while also testing the technology trendsetter's ability to popularize new-fangled devices after others failed to capture the public's imagination.
Macron announces France is sending 100 firefighters to Quebec
France will be sending firefighters to aid Quebec as the province continues to battle massive forest fires, French President Emmanuel Macron announced.
Uncertainty remains for Halifax-area evacuees as wildfire 100 per cent contained
A wildfire that tore through homes and businesses in the Halifax area is 100 per cent contained, but a historic fire in southwestern Nova Scotia remains out of control.