AMHERST, N.S. — Amherst’s police chief is in hospital in Halifax following a motor vehicle crash on Friday.
Dwayne Pike, who earlier this year was named Amherst chief of police, was thrown from his motorcycle when he attempted to avoid a male on a motorized wheelchair who had crossed the road in front of him.
The crash occurred just before 3 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 9 on Highway 6 just outside Amherst in front of Duguay’s Sales and Service.
“The male on the motorcycle was treated by EHS and hospitalized for serious, but non life-threatening injuries,” RCMP spokesperson Jennifer Clarke said in an email to the Amherst News on Monday. “The male in the motorized wheelchair was not injured and the motorcycle did not collide with the wheelchair.”
Clarke said the incident remains under investigation and charges may be pending against the operator of the motorized wheelchair.”
Amherst’s chief administrative officer Greg Herrett could not comment on the crash other than to say Deputy Chief Tim Hunter and Staff Sgt. Brian Gairns have the operation of the Amherst Police Department in hand.
“Policing services will continue at a high level until the chief returns to work,” Herrett said.
Deputy Chief Hunter said Pike is recovering from his injuries.
“The injuries are not life-threatening,” Hunter said.
The deputy chief said he’s not sure if he would become the acting chief during a prolonged absence of the chief, adding it’s a discussion he and Staff Sgt. Gairns would need to have with Herrett should the need arise.
Right now, he added, his thoughts and those of the department are with the chief.
