Police cleared of wrongdoing after woman falls from overpass in Abbotsford, airlifted to hospital

ABBOTSFORD – B.C.’s civilian watchdog has cleared the Abbotsford Police Department and its officers of any wrongdoing following an incident in early May in which a woman who was standing outside the safety railing on an overpass fell and was airlifted to hospital with serious injuries.

According to a statement from the Independent Investigations Office of BC, Abbotsford Police Department officers responded to 9-1-1 calls on Friday, May 1 about a woman who was on the side of the Old Yale Road overpass above Highway 11 in Abbotsford. Police received information about the call shortly before 11 p.m.

The IIO says AbbyPD officers spoke to the woman in an attempt to get her to move inside the barrier, but at around 11:30 p.m., she fell from the overpass and suffered serious injuries. She was taken by helicopter to a hospital for assessment and treatment.

The IIO says it was notified about the incident shortly after it occurred and launched an investigation.