Pedestrians struck, seriously injured by off-duty B.C. police officer: IIO

British Columbia’s police watchdog is investigating after an off-duty officer struck two pedestrians with an SUV, sending them to hospital with serious injuries, on Vancouver Island.

The Independent Investigations Office of B.C. says the collision was reported shortly before 6 a.m. Thursday near the intersection of the Trans-Canada Highway and University Way in Duncan.

Officers with the North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP responded to the scene and “determined an off-duty officer had been driving the SUV involved in the collision, which took place in the northbound lanes of traffic,” the IIO said in a statement Friday.

The police oversight agency did not say which police department the officer works for.

Both pedestrians were taken to hospital, where they remain in serious but stable condition Friday, the IIO said.

Investigators are now urging anyone who saw the collision, or who has video of the incident, to contact the IIO at 1-855-446-8477 or online at iiobc.ca.

The agency probes all police-related incidents that result in serious harm or death in B.C., whether or not there are any allegations of wrongdoing on the part of officers.