The BC Coroners Service has announced that a public inquest will be held into the death of Ebony Aaron Wood.

The inquest will take place, beginning Nov. 14, 2017, at 9:30 a.m., at Quesnel Court Services (350 Barlow Ave.).

On Nov. 5, 2016, Wood, aged 36, was involved in a motor vehicle incident. RCMP attended and Wood was subsequently taken into custody and placed in the back of the police cruiser. When he told an RCMP officer that he was experiencing chest and shoulder pain, an ambulance was called and Wood was transferred to the ambulance for transport to the hospital. En route, Wood left the back of the ambulance, falling to the road and suffering a head injury. He died two days later on Nov. 7. As Wood was in the custody of a peace officer at the time of his death, an inquest is mandatory under the Coroners Act.

Presiding coroner Donita Kuzma and a jury will hear evidence from witnesses under oath to determine the facts surrounding this death. The jury will have the opportunity to make recommendations aimed at preventing deaths under similar circumstances.

An inquest is a formal process that allows for public presentation of evidence relating to a death.

The BC Coroners Service looks to gather the facts surrounding why a death took place and is not a fault-finding agency. It provides an independent service to the family, community, government agencies and other organizations.