Moose Jaw police officer cleared in fatal rollover sparked by dispute over tractor

The Saskatchewan Serious Incident Response Team has concluded its investigation into a fatal rollover that occurred during a police pursuit in Moose Jaw in 2024.

In a report released publicly this week, Greg Gudelot, the team’s civilian executive director, concluded there are “no grounds to believe an offence was committed by any police officer.”

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The incident that led to the death began with a dispute at Lakeview Trailer Court in Moose Jaw on November 7, 2024, over the ownership of a garden tractor. It escalated into a confrontation that involved “makeshift weapons” and eventually a high-speed chase through the city.

The driver of a black truck placed two calls to the Moose Jaw Police Service to report that the truck was being pursued by a silver Honda Civic, and saying the driver of the Honda was attempting to hit the truck. The operator advised the caller to drive towards the police station. Two Moose Jaw officers in separate vehicles were dispatched to intercept them.

The Civic ultimately collided with a raised median at the top of the hill on Main Street while travelling at about 100 km/h. The rolled for a distance of approximately 85 metres. A 31-year-old man in the front passenger seat was ejected from the vehicle and pinned under it in the northbound turning lane on Main Street. He was pronounced deceased at the scene, and an autopsy confirmed the man died as a result of blunt force trauma to the head. The driver and other passenger in the vehicle were transported to hospital for treatment.

The Serious Incident Response Team investigates cases “where an individual may have died or suffered serious injury arising from the actions of on and off-duty police officers.” The team said its investigation used “extensive video evidence” in addition to interviews with six civilian witnesses and a collision reconstruction report to reach its conclusion.

The report established the police vehicle had its emergency lights and sirens activated and was 12-15 seconds behind the Civic during the pursuit. At no point did the two vehicles make contact.

“The evidence does not establish that the manner in which the Civic was being operated was influenced by any action or inaction on the part of the Subject Officer,” the report read.

As a result, no charges have been laid against the officer involved.