Emergency crews and the motoring public were put at risk Friday afternoon, when the driver of a pickup truck chose to flee from police officers conducting traffic control at an unrelated scene of a motor vehicle collision along Highway 33 near Joe Rich.
On January 12, 2018 at approximately 2:18 pm, RCMP officers were conducting traffic control around a collision scene along Highway 33 east of Kelowna, when an officer was informed by a motorist that a Dodge Ram pickup truck, in the lineup, had been seen driving erratically. The officer directed the driver of the Dodge Ram pickup truck to the side of the road and began to approach the driver’s side window, when the operator suddenly accelerated.
A second officer, also conducting traffic control at the crash scene, attempted to flag the driver to stop, which he again ignored and continue to flee the area. A third officer was nearly struck when he attempted to stop the pickup truck along Highway 33 near Goudie Road.
“Due to the risk the suspect posed to the public, Kelowna Air Services were engaged and RCMP helicopter, “Air 4,” took to the skies to assist,” states Cpl. Jesse O’Donaghey.
“The burgundy Dodge Ram pickup truck was later discovered abandoned in a ditch along Como Road near Fisher Road on the edge of East Kelowna,” says Cpl. Jesse O’Donaghey. “The vehicle has since been seized by police and remains part of our ongoing investigation.”
If you witnessed this incident and have not yet spoken to police, or you have any information that may assist investigators, you are asked to contact the Kelowna RCMP.