Cayman’s public watchdog, the Office of the Ombudsman, has launched an independent investigation into a collision between a police car and a private vehicle.
The collision occurred on Sunday night, 3 May, around 9.30pm, on Bodden Town Road, near Monument Road.
In a media release following the crash, the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service said the police vehicle had been responding to an emergency incident, with its emergency siren and lights activated, when the driver of the other vehicle turned right onto the roadway instead of yielding to allow the police car to pass. The police vehicle collided with the right side of the other vehicle, and both cars suffered what was described as significant damage.
Both drivers were taken by ambulance to the Anthony S. Eden Hospital in George Town, where they were treated for non-life-threatening injuries, and discharged.
The police statement said the matter was being investigated by the Traffic and Roads Policing Unit and that the Ombudsman has been notified.
Appeal for dashcam footage
Now, the Ombudsman is appealing to members of the public who were present on the night or who may have witnessed the collision, to provide any video footage of the scene or the vehicles that were driving in the area at the time of the collision.
In a statement issued on 8 May, the Office of the Ombudsman said it was particularly interested in any dashcam video footage recorded in the area at the time immediately before the collision occurred, which shows the police vehicle involved.
It also would like to speak with the driver of a third vehicle, believed to be a black Honda Fit, which was also involved.
“All information and material received will be kept confidential,” the Ombudsman statement said.
It added, “Public interest following the incident, including a RCIPS press release and media reports, provides the Ombudsman with the authority to review the conduct of police officers involved in the matter, independently of the RCIPS investigation.”
The watchdog is conducting what is known as an ‘own-motion investigation’ under section 3(2)c of the Police (Complaints by the Public) Act.
Anyone with information can contact Deputy Ombudsman Shamique Frederick via email at [email protected] or investigator Steve McEwan via email at [email protected], or call them on 946-6283.
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