Locals have been offering an outpouring of support for a man who was hit by a police vehicle in Squamish last month.
Media in Ireland have identified the man as 29-year-old Brendan Keogh of Longford.
“From everyone at the Howe Sound Inn, our hearts and prayers are with Brendan [Keogh] and his family, who are now over here from Ireland,” said Dave Fenn, co-owner of Howe Sound Inn and Brewing Company.
“Brendan has worked with us over the past year and he has made many new friends in the community."
Fenn said that staff members have done some private fundraising to help Keogh and his family.
“We are in regular contact with Brendan’s family, and will continue to support Brendan and them in any way possible,” said Fenn. “Once again, we all pray for his recovery.”
The Longford Leader says that a prayer service for Keogh was held on April 5 in his native Mullinalaghta, which is located in the north-eastern part of County Longford.
Keogh has been moved out of intensive care, but is still in “serious condition,” according to the newspaper.
Around 10:30 p.m. on March 13, an officer with the Lower Mainland Integrated Police Dog Services travelling in a grey unmarked SUV was involved in a crash with a male pedestrian at the intersection of Highway 99 and Garibaldi Way, Squamish RCMP said shortly after the collision.
The Independent Investigations Office has been looking into the incident.
This civilian oversight agency is called to investigate cases involving police officers and serious harm or death. An allegation of wrongdoing isn’t necessary for an investigation to proceed.
The agency has been looking for occupants of a vehicle whom investigators believe may have witnessed the incident.
At the time of the collision, a white hatchback vehicle was turning right from Garibaldi Way — as seen in the photos — to merge with the southbound lane of Highway 99, the IIO previously said in a news release.
The IIO is asking for the driver of this vehicle and any potential occupants or other witnesses who may have seen, heard, or recorded the incident to contact the IIO Witness Line at 1-855-446-8477 or email [email protected].
