Police escort Const. Sarah Beckett's body to airport
Escort left Victoria General Hospital just before noon for the airport
Hundreds of people lined the streets of Victoria today to watch police escort the body of RCMP Const. Sarah Beckett to the airport, following her death in a collision earlier this week.
The escort — led by officers from the constable's West Shore detachment — departed Victoria General Hospital for the Victoria International Airport just before noon.
The popular 32-year-old officer left behind a husband and two young children when she was killed in collision in the Victoria suburb of Langford while on duty early Tuesday morning.
Karla Easingwood was there to watch the motorcade pass with her own four-year-old daughter, who had expressed concerns for Beckett when she heard about the crash.
"I just told her that we are here today to say thank you and I explained to her that a police officer died.... and that we need to say thank you to everyone that helps us, police officers, firefighters, paramedics," said Easingwood.
Another young mother, Ashley Lott, was also waiting along the route.
"It is devastating, terrible that something like this happened … That's all I can think about. Just knowing that her kids don't have a mum anymore — it is just hard to think about," said Lott.
Frasier McKay said it was important to remember the risks police face every day on the job.
"Police officers every day go to work knowing they may not come home, and she died a hero. And she had a young family, and it was just a life cut short too young," said McKay.
Earlier the RCMP said it was talking with her family about plans for a possible public memorial.
The driver of the other vehicle was arrested at the scene and released Wednesday. No charges have been laid, but police said the investigation is ongoing.
Beckett's body is being taken to Vernon for tests as part of the police investigation, an official said.
With files from Madeline Green, Richard Zussman and Mike McArthur