It could be up to six months before charges are laid in the motor vehicle crash that claimed the life of a cyclist on Sea Island at the end of July.
According to RCMP spokeswoman Sgt. Annie Linteau, that’s not an unusual length of time required to ensure investigators with the force’s ICARS (Integrated Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Service) have completed a comprehensive analysis prior to submitting it to Crown Counsel for charge approval.
On July 30 Christy Mahy, 36, was on her bike during the late afternoon waiting at the intersection of Russ Baker Way and Gilbert Road when a Pontiac Aztek heading north on Russ Baker Way drove into her.
Mahy later died in hospital.
Linteau said that while she cannot speak to specifics of this case, ICARS must gather evidence from a variety of sources and enlist the assistance of experts in the course of an investigation.
“These things can take a long time to complete,” she said, adding, “It’s important that a complete package of information is submitted to Crown Counsel.”
Traffic cameras at the intersection will be of no help as they don’t record images.
ICARs’ caseload can also be a factor in the length of time for investigations to be wrapped up, Linteau said.
According to information posted on the RCMP’s provincial website for B.C., ICARS is comprised of 22 employees — two support staff and 20 officers — and is responsible for investigating all vehicle collisions that result in serious injury or death in the RCMP’s Lower Mainland District. That includes 19 communities stretching from North Vancouver to Hope.
Figures show that in the 2012/2013 reporting period, ICARS responded to 227 calls — 13 of those were from Richmond.
Richmond City Coun. Derek Dang, who is also chair of the Community Safety Committee, said that while the investigation’s completion is something he’d like to see done as soon as possible, “if it’s not out of the realm of normal procedures, it’s hard to criticize,” Dang said.
“They (RCMP) want to make sure that whatever charges are suggested that they stick,” Dang added. “Quite frankly, it does seem like a long time. And it’s a tough one for the family who, I am sure, would want some resolution to this.”
