RCMP Watch

Kim Bolan (Vancouver Sun) - A pregnant mother who died in a crash with a Richmond RCMP cruiser six weeks ago had been drinking heavily at the time of the accident, said a toxicology report released today.RCMP Cpl. Nycki Basra said Emmanuella Cauchon had three times the legal blood alcohol content when her vehicle crashed into that of an on-duty officer on Dec. 30.

Police had earlier said Cauchon appeared to be speeding just before the crash, was not wearing a seatbelt and had entered the intersection of No. 6 Road and Cambie on a red light.

That triggered angry reaction from her family and friends, who said the RCMP appeared to be blaming the accident on the 33-year-old mother of two, who was three months pregnant when she was killed.

Her brother Eric Cauchon told The Vancouver Sun today that he was not aware of the toxiocology results until contacted by The Sun.

“Oh is that right,” Eric Cauchon said. “Yes it is a surprise. It totally is.”

He said his sister, who got into the accident about 3:30 p.m., was not known as a drinker at all. The family had earlier said she was out running errands when the crash occured.

Eric Cauchon said he had no idea where his sister might have been. But he was adamant she would not have been out at a Christmas season party.

“No, of course not,” he said when asked about the possibility.

Basra said Cauchon’s blood alcohol reading “is based on the sample of her that was taken at the hospital. I don’t have the exact time, but that was roughly an hour or two after the accident.”

She said the RCMP has tried to be as open as possible with both Cauchon’s family and the public about the fatal crash.The new developments were shared with the victim’s father before being released publicly, Basra said.

As for the criticism earlier levelled at police, Basra said everyone should be waiting for all the facts in any case.

“That’s why we have always made it very clear that our investigations are ongoing. Wait till all the facts are out. And that is exactly what has happened. It is still ongoing and this is just another piece of the evidence. But until this point, we had nothing to indicate that alcohol was a factor and I had advised that in all my previous reports,” she said.

The RCMP will still send its final report to the provincial Crown to review.

Basra said the RCMP officer, who was also injured, has just returned to work on a limited basis. News of the toxicology report has been shared with him.

“I can only imagine that it would be (a relief) because these situations happen and you question yourself. His story has always been that he had a green light,” she said.

Cauchon and her common-in-law spouse, Jessy Marceau, have two young children and Basra stressed the death is a tragedy for her family.

“Police have worked with her family to provide them with all available information and support during this difficult time,” she said.

The fact investigators have released information throughout the probe is a “move to being more transparent.”

“We have been criticized in the past that we haven’t been open enough. A part of that has been because things have been ongoing, we hadn’t confirmed things yet. And now we are releasing information as it becomes available with the understanding that look - this file is still under investigation,” Basra said.

“Each case is dependent on the circumstance of that case. In this case, it is not going to compromise the integrity of the investigation.”