BURST
Stolen semi-truck rams police cruisers before high speed chase through Langley, Surrey
A dramatic police chase that started in Langley involving a suspected stolen semi-truck ended with the truck crashing into the Fraser River in Surrey and the driver arrested.
Langley RCMP said officers noticed the semi-truck with “mismatched licence plates” in the area of 24th Avenue and 206th Street just after 7:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Shortly after midnight, officers tried to stop the truck. As police lights lit up, the driver began ramming police vehicles before fleeing.
Officers used a spike belt to try to stop the truck. The spikes managed to puncture the truck’s front right tire, but the truck drove ahead “at high speed,” said police. Police gave chase as the truck raced into Surrey through residential neighbourhoods.
Police used another spike belt, which disabled the truck’s rear tires.
Despite the damage, the truck barrelled on heading northbound on 176th Street to Highway 17 and further west into Surrey’s Bridgeview area “driving dangerously at high speeds, disregarding red lights, and overtaking several vehicles,” said RCMP.
The police chase spanned about 30 kilometres and in what police called a “final reckless manoeuvre,” the truck drove onto a public dock area where several dozen people were at the time. The truck drove off an embankment and landed in the Fraser River.
The driver tried to flee but was arrested by police nearby.
“This was an incredibly dangerous situation involving a suspect who showed zero regard for public safety or the lives of our officers,” said Sgt. Zynal Sharoom of Langley RCMP.
“Thanks to the skill, co-ordination, and professionalism of several policing units, this individual was safely taken into custody without injury to the public or police.”
The 40-year-old driver is in police custody. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Langley RCMP.
Mounties investigate double stabbing in Langley
Langley RCMP are investigating a double stabbing that sent two people to hospital early Thursday.
Mounties said it received a report of a disturbance in the 19800-block 56 Avenue at approximately 3:40 a.m.
Officers found two people injured with stab wounds. They were treated with first aid and taken to hospital.
A 33-year-old man was arrested. He remains in police custody.