Street race ends in a collision and an impaired charge

B.C., Outer Gulf Islands

2024-08-02 12:51 PDT

File # 2024-587

On July 31, 2024 an Outer Gulf RCMP member on patrol came up on to a single vehicle roll over collision on Bedwell Harbor Rd, near Cemetery Rd on Pender Island. Constable Taekema stated "I came around the corner and there was a grey van on it's side, blocking both lanes of traffic, it was still steaming".

Witnesses at the scene told Cst Taekema the van and another car were travelling at a high rate of speed, which they described as racing, along Bedwell Harbor Rd in front of the farm. The van failed to negotiate the right hand curve and went off the road, hitting the ditch then flipped, landing back on to the roadway.

The driver and passenger were located inside the van, both were wearing seat belts. Pender Island Fire Rescue along with BC ambulance attended and extracted the driver and passenger. Driver was investigated on scene for impairment. Police determined the driver to be impaired at the time.

Both passenger and driver sustained injuries during the collision and were transported to hospital by air ambulance and water ambulance.

Constable Taekema stated "based on witness information, the second vehicle involved was identified along with the driver". A short time later, police tracked down the second vehicle and driver. The driver was issued a violation ticket, along with the vehicle being impounded for seven days for street racing. 

At the time of this release, the condition of the driver and passenger is unknown.  

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