Driver comes forward, truck seized, in Residential School March investigation

Mission

2022-06-06 08:52 PDT

File # 2022-6240

The driver of a truck that reportedly hit four people walking in the March for Recognition for Residential Schools has come forward to police and is cooperating with the investigation.   The 77-year-old driver is not in custody.   Mission RCMP has seized his truck for examination.

The March took place on June 4, and temporarily blocked the only eastbound travel lane of Lougheed Highway, just east of Mission, as a large group made their way from Heritage Park to the site of the former St Mary’s Residential School.   RCMP was called by a bystander after it appeared as though a fight was about to break out.  When police arrived, they learned that a man driving a pickup truck had driven up through part of the demonstration, allegedly hitting four people while doing so, before driving away.  Two of the four people received minor injuries.

"Thanks to the assistance of the news media and social media, this driver learned that police were looking for him, and he came forward and has been interviewed by police, which has helped to advance this investigation," says Constable Harrison Mohr with Mission RCMP.  "However, we still need a few more details, and are asking for more information from the public.  We did not actually receive any 911 calls about the truck driving through the March, however we believe that there are more witnesses – including more people with cell phone video and dash cam footage who have not yet come forward."

Mission RCMP is specifically looking to speak with the driver of a single-unit dump truck or semi truck, possibly blue in colour, that was behind the blue Chevrolet Silverado pickup as it passed the March.  Police believe that driver may have some key information for this investigation.

"This has been a traumatizing event for the people involved in the March, as well as the wider community, and police are working hard to gather all of the evidence to help to bring some answers and some closure to everyone involved," says Cst. Mohr.  "Like any criminal investigation, we need to let the evidence guide the investigation, and that’s why we’re continuing to ask for more witnesses to come forward.  We want to ensure that we present the best evidence possible for charge assessment by Crown Counsel."

Anyone with more information should call Mission RCMP: 604-826-7161.

Released by

Cst. Harrison Mohr

Media Relations Officer
Mission RCMP
7171 Oliver St, Mission, BC V2V 6H2
Office: 604-826-7161
Fax: 604-820-3548

Email: harrison.mohr@rcmp-grc.gc.ca
Website: mission.rcmp-grc.gc.ca (English only)

Follow Us:

Date modified: