SURREY — Criminal charges will not be laid against an RCMP consultant who was driving a semi-truck that struck and killed a pedestrian near the Surrey-Langley border last August.
That’s the word from the Surrey RCMP’s Major Crime Unit.
“After a comprehensive and thorough eight month investigation, Surrey RCMP tentatively found that no criminality existed on the part of the driver involved in this collision,†Sgt. Dale Carr said.
He added that B.C.’s Office of the Police Complaints Commission confirmed the Surrey RCMP’s finding of no criminality on the part of the driver, earlier this month.
The crash, in the 19500-block of the Langley Bypass, was reported as a hit-and-run at the time. It happened on Aug. 7, 2013.
“The investigation revealed it’s not a hit-and-run,†Carr said, noting that investigators found the driver was not trying to evade capture.
Carr said the consultant, who had been driving the truck back to the yard after helping the Surrey RCMP recreate another crash, did not realize he’d hit someone until he got back to the yard and noticed “worrisome†damage to the truck.
“He phoned the police immediately,†Carr said.
Carr noted it’s “not uncommon†for a truck driver to strike something and not realize it. “The trucks are so big.â€
While “there’s no doubt that he caused the death,†Carr said, there was nothing criminal about it.
The driver, whose name has not been released, was an experienced civilian consultant hired by law enforcement agencies throughout the Lower Mainland. The victim, 37-year-old Andrew Leduc, had been pronounced dead at the scene.
“This is extremely tragic for the family,†Carr said. “It’s unfortunate. Our hearts go out to the family.â€
Carr said Leduc's family live in Penticton and police have advised them of the findings. “Surrey RCMP Major Crime Unit is currently working with the victim’s family members to identify a time to review the investigation with them and answer all questions as to how they reached the conclusion of the investigation,†Carr said.
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