A Saskatchewan RCMP officer escaped serious injury after an SUV struck a parked police vehicle and narrowly missed the officer during a traffic stop on Highway 16 east of Lloydminster.
The incident happened around 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 8, after a Saskatchewan RCMP Combined Traffic Services officer activated the police vehicle’s emergency equipment and pulled over a driver.
The officer parked the fully marked police vehicle and got out to speak with the driver.
While the traffic stop was underway, RCMP say an SUV travelling at highway speed struck the parked police vehicle, narrowly missing the officer standing outside.
The officer was struck by debris, including the police vehicle’s sideview mirror, but was not seriously injured. The police vehicle sustained significant damage.
RCMP say this is the second time this year an officer has nearly been struck by a vehicle while conducting a traffic stop.
“Twice this year we have almost had one of our officers hit while conducting a traffic stop,” said Supt. Grant St. Germaine, officer in charge of Saskatchewan RCMP Traffic Services.
The SUV stopped following the collision, and its driver was issued a ticket for driving without due care and attention.
Slow to 60
RCMP are reminding motorists that drivers must slow to 60 kilometres per hour when passing emergency vehicles with their emergency lights activated. Police are also asking drivers to remain attentive and give first responders room to work safely.
Thanksgiving enforcement
The incident comes as Saskatchewan RCMP report results from traffic enforcement conducted over the Thanksgiving weekend as part of Operation Impact.
From Oct. 7 to 11, Maidstone Combined Traffic Services Saskatchewan officers checked 184 vehicles and conducted 169 mandatory alcohol screenings.
Officers issued five roadside licence suspensions after determining drivers had recently consumed alcohol and another 26 after determining drivers had recently consumed drugs.
Police also impounded 31 vehicles, issued 119 tickets and handed out 238 warnings.
RCMP say about 17 per cent of the vehicles checked resulted in a roadside suspension related to recent drug or alcohol consumption, equivalent to roughly one in six.
The Maidstone results represent only one portion of Saskatchewan RCMP enforcement conducted during Operation Impact.
