LASHBURN, Sask. – For the second time this year, a Saskatchewan RCMP officer was nearly hit by a vehicle travelling at highway speeds while conducting a traffic stop.
On Oct. 8 at approximately 10 a.m., a Saskatchewan RCMP Combined Traffic Services Saskatchewan officer activated their vehicle’s emergency equipment and conducted a traffic stop on Highway 16, west of Lashburn.
The officer positioned their fully-marked police vehicle in the proper manner to safely conduct a traffic stop. They then exited the police vehicle to speak with the driver who had been pulled over.
While the officer was speaking with the driver, a separate SUV that was travelling in the driving lane at highway speeds collided with the parked police vehicle and narrowly missed the police officer standing outside. The officer was hit by debris, including the police vehicle’s sideview mirror. Police say they are very grateful to report that the officer was not seriously injured. The police vehicle was significantly damaged.
“Twice this year we have almost had one of our officers hit while conducting a traffic stop – and this doesn’t include the many scary close calls we don’t report publicly,” said Supt. Grant St. Germaine, officer in charge of Saskatchewan RCMP Traffic Services, in a release. “Watching the video is terrifying. Our officers are out there doing their job to keep the public safe – we need drivers to do their part to keep our officers safe.”
Following the collision, the SUV came to a stop. The adult male driver was issued a traffic ticket for driving without due care and attention.
“Drivers must slow down to 60 km/h when passing emergency vehicles with activated lights, remain attentive behind the wheel and give first responders ample space to work safely,” said Supt. St. Germaine. “It can be easy to see only the uniform, but please remember that every officer is someone’s spouse, parent, child, sibling, or friend. At the end of each day, they have loved ones waiting for them to come home safely.”
Thanksgiving weekend patrols
Over the Thanksgiving weekend, RCMP officers were out on the roads as part of Operation Impact, a traffic safety campaign that took place across Canada. Between Oct. 7 and Oct. 11, officers with Maidstone Combined Traffic Services Saskatchewan (CTSS):
- checked 184 vehicles;
- conducted 169 Mandatory Alcohol Screenings;
- issued five roadside licence suspensions after determining drivers had recently consumed alcohol;
- issued 26 roadside licence suspensions after determining drivers had recently consumed drugs;
- impounded 31 vehicles;
- issued 119 tickets; and
- issued 238 warnings.
During the traffic enforcement conducted by Maidstone CTSS, approximately 17 per cent of the vehicles checked were issued a roadside suspension for drug or alcohol consumption (approximately one in every six drivers). This was just one portion of the enforcement conducted by Saskatchewan RCMP as part of Operation Impact. Full results are expected later this week.
Saskatchewan RCMP continue to ask drivers to make safe decisions before getting behind the wheel. Every decision matters and makes a difference in your safety, and the safety of others.
