Post by : Meena Ariff

Almost five years after a tragic crash involving a wrong-way driver on Highway 1 in B.C.’s Fraser Valley, a coroner’s inquest is underway to uncover the sequence of events that led to the untimely deaths of Gabriel Johnson Choi, 35, Hasan Khaled Ayyad, 29, and Allison Dawn Gilchrist, 43.

In the early morning hours of December 29, 2020, an RCMP officer observed a vehicle traveling eastbound in the wrong lane between Chilliwack and Hope—approximately 120 kilometers east of Vancouver—just after 4 a.m. The car was speeding, which instigated a police chase.

Minutes following the pursuit, the vehicle struck another car head-on. Two individuals perished at the scene, while a third died later due to injuries sustained. The B.C. Coroners Service confirmed that Ayyad was driving the wrong-way vehicle with Gilchrist as a passenger, whereas Choi was at the wheel of the other car.

The Independent Investigations Office of B.C. cleared the pursuing officer of any misconduct in 2022, indicating that proper protocols were adhered to during the chase.

This coroner’s inquest aims to scrutinize the incident and recommend measures to avert future occurrences of similar tragedies. While coroner’s juries do not determine legal fault, their conclusions often shape public safety and policing regulations.

Attending family members shared poignant memories during the inquest. Stormie Choi, sibling of Gabriel, remembered him as a talented hip-hop artist and breakdancer, stating via video call that his humor brought immense joy to their family. “His absence is profoundly felt,” she conveyed.

Barbara Empson, mother of Gilchrist, fondly recalled her daughter’s warm presence and “radiating smile,” while addressing her mental health challenges that made connecting with loved ones difficult.

Retired RCMP Staff Sgt. Philip Neetz, who served as the watch commander that night, testified that a spike belt was deployed to halt the speeding vehicle, but Ayyad evaded it. Neetz noted that he had commanded the pursuit to be terminated due to high risks near city limits, but the order was not clearly communicated over the radio, leading to continued pursuit.

“I was perplexed as to why the order was faintly transmitted,” Neetz reflected, acknowledging that fast-moving situations and congested radio traffic can obscure communication for officers.

The inquest will proceed as jurors delve deeper into the distressing accident, assessing police responses and exploring strategies to mitigate risks associated with high-speed pursuits.

#Canada News #police news