Retired police sergeant dies after head-on collision in Nanaimo

A former police spokesperson for the Abbotsford Police Department has been killed in a head-on crash in Nanaimo.

Retired Sgt. Shinder Kirk died after a vehicle collision in Nanaimo, Abbotsford Police Department have confirmed.

Kirk worked as aspokesperson for Abbotsford police, as well as the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of B.C. and the Vancouver-based Integrated Gang Task Force.

He spokeoften to the media about gang violence in the Lower Mainland.

B.C. public safety minister Mike Farnworthsaid Kirkwill be remembered as a respected professional who took his job seriously and cared deeply for his community.

"His loss is a tragedy not just for those who knew him and his family, but for the policing community as a whole," said Farnworth.

Premier John Horgan also offered words of condolence over social media on Sunday.

Nanaimo RCMP responded to the crashon Cedar Road near the Cedar Bridge at around 1:49 p.m. PT Saturday. According to police,two pickup trucks had collided head-on.

Officers confirmed thedriver of one truck died and two passengers in the same vehicle were flown to hospital with injuries.

Abbotsford police identified Kirk as the deceased driver.

According to officials, no one from the second vehicle was injured.