The province’s police watchdog has cleared the West Shore RCMP of any wrongdoing in the November death of a man who drove his car into the ocean in North Saanich and died.
The Independent Investigations Office of B.C. has concluded its part of the investigation, but an independent investigation into the death of Brayden Veldhuyzen van Zanten, who was 19 at the time, continues with the B.C. Coroners Service.
According to the IIO, West Shore RCMP arrested Veldhuyzen van Zanten at about 3 p.m. on Nov. 20 without incident. No details of the case were made available. He was released from custody at 7 p.m. the same day.
At about 7:20 p.m., the man was reported to have breached his conditions, and an officer from the West Shore RCMP detachment spoke to Veldhuyzen Van Zanten.
Two hours later, shortly before 9 p.m., his vehicle went off the road at the intersection of Mills Road and West Saanich Road in North Saanich. Veldhuyzen Van Zanten was pronounced dead at the scene. Multiple agencies, including Sidney/North Saanich RCMP, firefighters and paramedics were called to the scene.
The IIO said its chief civilian director reviewed the evidence — including civilian witness statements, medical information and police records — and determined that neither police action nor inaction played a role in the man’s death.
“There were concerns regarding the man’s mental wellness, but available information reflects that grounds did not exist to apprehend the man under the Mental Health Act,” the IIO said in a statement.
The IIO is the independent civilian oversight agency of the police in British Columbia. It investigates all officer-related incidents that result in serious harm or death, whether or not there is any allegation of wrongdoing.
