By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

2 arrested after stolen truck ends up in ditch, K9 unit called for quick on-foot chase

Feb 22, 2018 | 6:09 PM

NANAIMO — Two alleged car thieves made it easy for Nanaimo RCMP officers to catch them after they crashed into a ditch in the Cassidy area.

Nanaimo RCMP Cst. Gary O’Brien told NanaimoNewsNOW a stolen truck was spotted in Cassidy late Thursday afternoon, possibly stolen from up-Island. Online comments said a similar truck was seen speeding through Cedar.

O’Brien said the driver tried to pull a u-turn on the Trans-Canada Highway near the Cassidy Country Kitchen but ended up in the ditch on the opposite side of the road instead. Several police cars swarmed the area and the occupants of the truck were soon arrested. 

The K-9 unit was brought in to catch the driver, who O’Brien said led police on a quick chase until the dog took him down.

A witness told NanaimoNewsNOW the truck was headed north on the highway with police in pursuit. She said the driver suddenly tried to pull a u-turn through a break in the barrier near Beck Rd. but lost control and slammed into the ditch.

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She said after the crash, a man jumped out the passenger door and ran up the bank away from police.

While trying to get out of the ditch, the truck hit one of the cop cars. O’Brien said the damage was minimal but would still cost roughly $1,000 to fix. 

It’s unknown when the two will appear in Nanaimo court.

The incident led to brief lane closures and slow-moving traffic on the Highway.

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