Man arrested, another in critical condition after suspected vehicle theft in Parksville
A 21-year-old man has been arrested in Parksville, B.C., after a suspected vehicle theft resulted in another man being airlifted to hospital.
Police say they were called to a report of a single-vehicle crash at the intersection of Wembley Road and Reid Road at 4:05 p.m. Tuesday and found a crashed pickup as well as an injured man.
According to Sgt. Steve Rose of Oceanside RCMP, the injured man had tried to jump onto or into the pickup at a nearby residence in order to prevent the theft from taking place. The man was an acquaintance of the vehicle’s owner.
“As the driver accelerated and transited from Reid Road onto Wembley Road, because of the speed, he went into the ditch on the opposing side which is what likely caused the injured party to be pushed against the vehicle coming to rest in the ditch," Rose said.
The 28-year-old who fell off the vehicle was airlifted to hospital and remains in critical but stable condition Thursday.
The search then began for the suspect. Police already had the man’s name and description and direction of travel. He was located quickly by highway patrol officers.
“The 21-year-old Parksville man who was the driver of the pickup truck was located a short time later down on the beachfront and he was arrested and will be facing several charges approved by the Crown," Rose said.
“That includes dangerous driving causing bodily harm, theft of motor vehicle, driving while prohibited and also failing to remain after an accident causing bodily harm."
Residents in the neighbourhood say the home where the incident began has been a frequent source of complaints to police.
Police won’t comment on the home’s past history but say the owner of the truck, the friend who tried to prevent the theft and the driver who fled in the pickup were all known to each other.
“The parties involved and the witnesses that police spoke to yesterday are known to each other and some of them do have a history with the police,” Rose said.
Police say the situation could have been dangerous..
“Definitely dangerous to both persons who live in that vicinity and the motoring public who happened to be on the roadway as this vehicle was trying to flee and certainly fleeing from that scene after being involved with the crash also suggests that the person responsible wasn’t overly concerned about what had transpired," Rose said..
The pickup was uninsured and was being worked on at the home before it was involved in the incident.
Anyone with information on the crime is asked to contact Oceanside RCMP at 250-248-6111.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.