ON Tuesday, July 28, 2026, at approximately 4:45 a.am., a Coquitlam RCMP Traffic Services officer was injured by a passing vehicle during a traffic stop in a 70km/h zone on the Mary Hill By-pass. The officer was conducting a traffic enforcement investigation roadside with their police vehicle emergency lights activated when a passing vehicle struck the officer.

The person with whom the officer was initially conducting a traffic stop with assisted the injured police officer. The officer was taken to hospital with minor injuries and is expected to make a full recovery. The driver of the vehicle which struck the officer remained on scene and is cooperating with police. Impairment by drugs or alcohol was not a factor. The collision remains under investigation.

Coquitlam RCMP remind drivers that in British Columbia, motorists are required to slow down and move over for all vehicles stopped alongside the road that have flashing red, blue, or yellow lights. This includes a wide range of vehicles including police, fire, ambulance, tow trucks, and other roadside workers. To help ensure safety, motorists must slow their speed to:

• 70km/h when in an 80km/h or over zone
• 40km/h when in an under 80km/h zone

If travelling on a multi-lane road, drivers must move into another lane to pass when passing stopped vehicles with a flashing light, where safe to do so.

Driver failure to move over and/or slow down may result in a $173 traffic violation ticket.

For more information, visit the Government of British Columbia Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure website: Slow down, move over – Province of British Columbia (English only).

This incident was mere inches from becoming critical or potentially grave. Drive with caution and respect when near any vehicle that is stopped roadside.