Driver arrested after fleeing from police and crashing vehicle

On June 10 at approximately 11:00 p.m., the West Shore RCMP Traffic Unit alongside the BC Highway Patrol were conducting speed enforcement near the 3700 block of Sooke Rd in Metchosin.

Officers noted two vehicles were travelling west bound on the road at a high rate of speed and pulled over the vehicles. One vehicle stopped for police while the other, a 2019 Kia Forte travelling nearly double the speed limit, initially pulled over but then fled from officers.

In the processes of speeding away the Kia Forte hit the BC Highway Patrol officer’s leg. Within minutes, police received a call that the Kia Forte had crashed into a cement barrier and landed in the ditch at Sooke Rd near Kangaroo Rd. The driver of the Kia Forte was arrested for Flight from Police, Dangerous Operation of a Motor Vehicle and Proceeds of Crime as officers found a large amount of cash on the driver along with drug trafficking paraphernalia.

Inside the Kia Forte, officers noticed a dog who had been injured by the crash and was taken to the Veterinarian as it suffered a broken leg. The driver of the Kia Forte is identified as a 27-year-old Langford man who was released on an Undertaking with conditions to surrender his driver’s license, he was also issued a violation ticket under the Motor Vehicle Act for Excessive Speeding and the vehicle was impounded for 7 days.

Picture of Kia Forte after it was pulled out of the ditch:

The BC Highway Patrol Officer suffered minor injuries to their leg and is expected to recover. Traffic enforcement is an integral part of keeping communities safe. This incident was a close call for the officer and brings to light the dangers of policing, said Cpl. Nancy Saggar West Shore RCMP Media Relations Officer.