British Columbia's police watchdog will be investigating after three people were seriously hurt in a crash involving an all-terrain vehicle that officers had tried to stop minutes before.
RCMP say in a news release two officers from the Terrace detachment were on routine patrol on a forest service road when they encountered the vehicle allegedly speeding.
Police say the officers tried to stop the ATV with three people on board but it continued around the cruiser.
A few minutes later, a report came in of a crash involving what was believed to be the same vehicle and that three people were hurt.
A woman was flown to a larger hospital with life-threatening injuries and two men were taken to a local hospital with serious injuries.
Officers are investigating the cause of the crash to determine if alcohol or speed were factors, while the Independent Investigations Office will determine if police actions or inactions played a role in their injuries.
