IIO launches probe after woman standing outside safety railing on Abbotsford overpass falls, suffers injuries

ABBOTSFORD – B.C.’s civilian watchdog has launched an investigation into an incident in which a woman who was standing outside the safety railing on an overpass Friday night in Abbotsford later fell, suffering serious injuries.

According to a statement from the Independent Investigations Office of BC, Abbotsford Police Department officers responded to 9-1-1 calls Friday night (May 1) about a woman who was on the side of the Old Yale Road overpass above Highway 11 in Abbotsford. Police received information about the call shortly before 11 p.m.

The IIO says AbbyPD officers spoke to the woman in an attempt to get her to move inside the barrier, but at around 11:30 p.m., she fell from the overpass and suffered serious injuries. She was taken by helicopter to a hospital for assessment and treatment.

The IIO says it was notified about the incident shortly after it occurred and launched an investigation. It says it will seek to determine if there has been any injury that meets the threshold of serious harm as defined by the Police Act, and if there is a connection between the serious injury/death and officer action or inaction.

It says if both conditions are met, the investigation will continue to examine all available evidence to determine what occurred.

“At the conclusion of the investigation, the chief civilian director will consider whether there are reasonable grounds to believe that an offence may have occurred,” the IIO said.

It’s seeking any witnesses who might have information about the incident. The IIO Witness Line is 1-855-446-8477, or through the contact form on the iiobc.ca website.

The Abbotsford PD’s weekend recap stated that patrol officers responded to a mental health call on the Old Yale Road overpass at Highway 11. The roadway in the area was temporarily closed for approximately one hour. There was no public safety risk during this incident, police said.