The man behind the wheel of an 18 wheeler hauling fuel tanks was arrested in south Nanaimo after driving erratically on the Island Hwy. (File photo/Nanaimo RCMP)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

cans in cab

18 wheeler driver arrested in south Nanaimo for ‘troubling and shocking’ crime

Oct 31, 2019 | 6:58 AM

NANAIMO — Police pulled over and arrested the man behind the wheel of an 18-wheeler for a crime they’ve rarely seen.

Officers found the driver was drunk when they pulled him over on the Nanaimo Parkway south of the Fifth St. exit around 9 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 25. Empty beer cans were found in the cab as well.

RCMP Cst. Gary O’Brien said the fact the driver was hauling a load of big empty containers was “disturbing and rarely seen.”

“Very troubling and shocking were just some of the comments made by the investigating officers,” O’Brien said.

“Just imagine it’s a missile going down they highway. Thank goodness (officers) stopped it in time before a tragic accident occurred.”

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Police were first tipped off about the erratically driven 18 wheeler when it was en route from Parksville.

“There were a number of calls which came in,” O’Brien said. “The public was extremely concerned about the driving behaviour. Almost hitting the median, veering into cars, going left, going right.”

Breath samples showed the driver was three times over the legal limit.

He was served with a Promise to Appear for two counts of drunk driving, including driving while impaired and driving while over the legal limit.

His court date is Dec. 17.

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