Tsuut'ina officer cleared after driver being sought by police slammed into oncoming traffic, killing man

A Tsuut'ina Nation police officer did not contribute to or cause the death of a motorist in a February2016 collision in Calgary, the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) said Tuesday.

The finding comes following an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash that resulted in the death of 52-year-old Keith Morley of Turner Valley.

Morley died after a stolen truck fleeing police collided with his Toyota Corolla onthe 37th Street bridge over Fish Creek. The stolen truck was travelling south in the northbound lanes.

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The collision followed a police pursuit initiated by the officer, who attempted to make a traffic stop after the truck narrowly missed hitting officersstanding on a road assistingsomeone.

Rather than stop, the truck fled at high speed and entered Calgary city limits.

ASIRTdetermined that the officers "had the lawful authority both to attempt to stop the truck, and to pursue it after the driver failed to stop."

When the truck didn't stop, ASIRTsays, the officertook active steps to de-escalate the situation, including "deactivating the police vehicle's emergency equipment and disengaging."

Prior to the crash, the officerdiscontinued his or her pursuit, coming to a complete stop.

ASIRTexecutive director Susan D.Hughson determined that no criminal charges would result from the officer's actions.

The officer's name was not released.

Derek Grouette, the driver of the stolen truck, pleaded guilty in October 2016 to causing the deadly crash.

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He was sentenced to six years in prison.

In June 2016, the underage son of a Calgary police officer who was involved in the hit and run pledguilty to his role in the crash.

In May 2016,Janelle Umphervillepleaded guiltyto a number of charges connected to Morley's deathincluding theft and being in a stolen vehicle.

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