A high-speed car chase involving a stolen truck through Quesnel ended in a serious crash on Sunday afternoon, sparking police to warn the public against “taking the law into their own hands”.
Quesnel RCMP say that a brown Ford F-250 truck was reported stolen in the early morning hours from a property on Pentland Crescent in West Quesnel on Oct. 30.
Two days later, the stolen truck was spotted by a member of the public at the Kersley General Store on Nov. 1. Police say the witness then began to follow the suspect, and pursued them at high rates of speed back to Quesnel and in the downtown area.
Shortly before 3:00 p.m., the stolen truck collided with a Ford Focus that was not involved in the pursuit at the intersection of Kinchant Street and Carson Avenue.
The driver of the stolen truck fled the scene.
Police say officers have identified whom they believe to be the driver of the stolen vehicle, and are continuing efforts to locate him.
“We are reminding the public of the dangers of taking the law into your own hands; thankfully, there were no serious injuries in this collision, but that doesn’t justify the actions of anyone involved,” says Corporal Jennifer Cooper, North District RCMP Media Relations Officer in a statement.
“As a member of the public, there is no way for you to know any previous police or criminal history of the person you are dealing with and the dangers you are exposing yourself or those around you to.”
Cooper says police have seized the stolen vehicle, and it has been towed and secured at a location for further investigation.
Investigators are asking anyone who witnessed the incident and has not spoken with police to contact the Quesnel RCMP detachment on the non-emergency line at 250-992-9211.
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