Two people are dead following a devastating multi-vehicle crash on Topsail Road last night and the province’s new Serious Incident Response Team has been engaged to conduct an independent investigation.
RNC say a patrol officer attempted to pull over a vehicle heading east on Topsail Road near McNamara Drive in Paradise at 8:05 p.m. Police pursued but only for a short distance, disengaging at Trail’s End Drive.
The vehicle, a black Kia Soul, failed to stop and continued eastbound on Topsail Road at what witnesses tell VOCM News was a high rate of speed.
At 8:15, police responded to the scene of a collision at Topsail and Hamlyn roads in St. John’s.
A total of six vehicles were struck, including a motorcycle.
The deceased include the 25-year-old driver of the Kia and a 44-year-old man who was struck in the collision.
The Serious Incident Response Team is called in to investigate any situation involving police interaction that results in serious injury or death.
SIRT-NL Director Mike King has engaged the RCMP to conduct what he calls an independent investigation into the RNC’s actions in the incident, with SIRT oversight.
King says SIRT-NL is still in the process of developing its team. He is unable to provide any further information at this time, and an update will be given once the investigation is concluded.
RNC are asking anyone who witnessed the collision or who may have CCTV or dash cam footage from Paradise, Mount Pearl and St. John’s in the time leading up to the collision to contact investigators at 729-8000.
The Investigation in to a fatal multi-vehicle collision on Topsail Road in St. John’s is ongoing. #nltraffic https://t.co/IqkAO4nIeh
— Royal Newfoundland Constabulary (@RNC_PoliceNL) May 12, 2020
