A Pontiac Sunfire barreled across the oncoming lane and hit the railing which protects the Indigenous canoe display at Georgia Park on Front St. (Erik Burkitt)

By Ian Holmes

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May 1, 2020 | 11:27 AM

NANAIMO — Police say a motorist wanted no part of being pulled over, instead crashing minutes later into a Front St railing.

The crash happened on Thursday, April 30 just before 4 p.m. Cst. Gary O’Brien told NanaimoNewsNOW a Mountie first noticed a suspicious Pontiac Sunfire with Wisconsin plates on nearby Newcastle Ave.

He said police kept tabs on the vehicle with their lights on, but elected not to pursue the car.

Minutes later the suspect vehicle crashed into the railing on Front St. at the Indigenous canoe monument.

“Three occupants were seen running from that vehicle,” O’Brien said. “We called for police dog services, they tracked and we had a number of members on scene as well. One female was located, who was determined to a be a passenger.”

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A police dog scouring the Georgia Park/Maffeo Sutton Park area after a car crashed and three suspects fled on Thursday, April 30. (Erik Burkitt)

O’Brien said another female passenger and the male driver of the uninsured vehicle remain unaccounted for.

He said drug paraphernalia was found in a backpack in the car and a number of charges are being considered.

“We’re satisfied that we have determined who the driver is, we just have not been able to locate him.

Conveniently, O’Brien said the suspect vehicle had dash cam footage to help the police.

While there were no injuries, O’Brien pointed to a substantial public safety risk.

“When a driver decides to flee a valid police stop and secondly where the accident occurred is a high traffic vehicle area and the potential for injury to people and damage to property was significant.”

ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes