Gunshots didn’t ’cause or contribute’ to car chase death

Gunshot wounds didn’t contribute to the death of a man after a police chase through Saskatoon last week, according to the office of the chief coroner.

Saskatoon police said in a release Monday afternoon, saying the coroner had conducted an autopsy on 22-year-old Austin Eaglechief which “gunshot wounds (or firearm) neither caused nor contributed to the death.”

Eaglechief and another male suspect were cornered on Clearwater Place last Monday evening in a stolen vehicle, where they rammed a police cruiser and injured a female officer inside.

Another officer fired two shots at the stolen truck as it sped away.

Ten minutes later, police tried to stop the truck at Circle Drive near Idylwyld Drive. The vehicle sped past, colliding with another truck turning left onto Airport Road at 150 km/h.

Eaglechief was pronounced dead at the scene, while the other suspect was taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

The driver of the truck turning onto Airport Road received minor injuries.

The coroner’s office confirmed to 650 CKOM Eaglechief wasn’t hit by either of the bullets, but a cause of death isn’t expected for up to six months.