Driver convicted and sentenced to jail time following a hit and run collision from 2018 that injured a Burnaby RCMP officer

On July 4, 2018, a Burnaby RCMP officer, who was on foot, attempted to stop a vehicle driven by Argenal Lopez, after he was observed using an electronic device while driving. Rather than stopping as required by law, Lopez attempted to flee and accelerated, hitting the officer with his vehicle and breaking her arm. He continued to drive dangerously, striking and damaging a transport truck before fleeing the area.

See original release: 2018-07-04

Police later learned that, at that time, he had an outstanding warrant for his arrest. The Burnaby RCMP’s Criminal Collision Investigation Team assumed conduct of the investigation and worked with police partners in B.C. and Alberta, including the Edmonton Police Service, who provided significant assistance.

Following a lengthy investigation, on March 8, 2023, Argenal Lopez was found guilty of two criminal charges, Failing to Remain at the Scene of a Collision and Obstructing a Peace Officer. He received concurrent, six-month sentences for each offence, as well as a 2 year 9 month Canada-wide driving prohibition.

Lopez was also convicted of an unrelated charge of Driving While Prohibited and was sentenced to an additional consecutive sentence of three-months plus a 1 year driving prohibition in B.C.

This incident is a reminder that there is no such thing as a routine traffic stop, said Cpl. Laura Hirst with the Burnaby RCMP, which is a stark reminder as it is Distracted Driving Awareness Month.