A driver flew over a home's retaining wall off Park Ave. between Eighth and Ninth streets in Nanaimo's Harewood neighbourhood on the evening of Friday, March 7. (submitted photo)

By Ian Holmes

high risk incident

Driver barreled over Nanaimo retaining wall after evading police

Mar 10, 2025 | 11:25 AM

NANAIMO — Police say a vehicle sped off from a Harewood parking lot at a high rate of speed Friday night, hopping curbs before crashing minutes later.

It happened just after 9 p.m. when an older model Chevrolet Malibu careened over a retaining wall and crashed nose-first into the driveway of an Urbains Pl. driveway near Park Ave. Elementary School, according to Nanaimo RCMP Reserve Cst. Gary O’Brien.

He said a woman was found at the scene with serious injuries and taken to hospital where she remains.

“That person was determined to be the passenger in the car. The driver was not located, but based on evidence obtained we have a pretty good idea who it is and now we’re looking for that individual.”

Investigators remained on scene throughout the evening and into Saturday morning.

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O’Brien noted there was “significant concern” among neighbours as emergency responders flooded the area.

He said the ordeal quickly escalated after one of their officers attempted to pull over the car at University Village Shopping Centre on Fifth St.

“It had the wrong plate on the back of the vehicle, it didn’t match up with the vehicle description. As the police officer attempted to stop it, the vehicle backed into the police vehicle…and took off at a high rate of speed.”

O’Brien said the officer immediately decided not to pursuit the driver.

“The risk to the public certainly outweighs stopping that vehicle,” O’Brien told NanaimoNewsNOW. “We don’t know what they’re capable of, or what they’re trying to do so it’s best to let them go and we have investigative techniques that we can determine who was driving that car.”

O’Brien said it appeared most of the damage involved the property where the car crashed.

The responding officer at the shopping centre parking lot sustained minor injuries, O’Brien noted.

“Shortly after the impact his head struck the side window of his vehicle, and he was taken to hospital for observation.”

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