A North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP officer suffered back injuries last Sunday after his police car was struck from behind while he waited at a red light.
The car was hit while the officer waited at the intersection of the Trans-Canada Highway and Chaster Road around 2:30 p.m. He was sitting about four vehicles back from the red light when his cruiser was hit by a 2009 Pontiac Vibe driven by a 57-year-old Saanich man.
The driver and his passenger remained at the scene and cooperated with the investigation as other officers attended to the scene. The driver was issued a Motor Vehicle Act ticket for driving without due care and attention, which comes with a $368 fine. The man did sustain a cut to his hand in the collision, but did not require medical treatment.
Meanwhile, the officer involved was taken to the Cowichan District Hospital with undetermined back injuries. It is unknown when he will be able to return to duty.
"Just coming off the heels of March which was distracted driver awareness month, we cannot stress enough how important it is to keep your eyes on the road and your mind focused on driving." North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Krista Hobday said. "It could be the difference between life and death."
