The Independent Investigations Office of BC (IIO BC) is investigating after a man who was taken to hospital in a critical condition died hours after he was tasered by the RCMP.

An autopsy is set to determine exactly why the 38 year-old man died on Tuesday evening in hospital.

Kelowna RCMP were called to a report of an erratic driver on Highway 97 near Lake Country early on Monday morning.

The vehicle was located by Armstrong RCMP, who were unable to stop the driver. They allege that an RCMP officer was nearly hit as the driver fled.

Police say a short while later, the vehicle was stopped south of Sicamous, but the driver fled once again before officers had the chance to speak to him. The vehicle was later stopped once again in Malakwa, about 20 kilometres northeast of Sicamous.

“When officers attempted to take the man into custody, he allegedly resisted,” said Staff Sgt. Janelle Shoihet, in a release. “Officers deployed a Conducted Energy Weapon (CEW) and the man was handcuffed but then went into medical distress. The 38-year-old man was transported to a local area hospital by BC Emergency Health Services.”

RCMP will be conducting a concurrent criminal investigation as they say two police vehicles were damaged in the incident.

And the IIO BC will determine if the actions or inactions of police are linked to the man’s death.