10/7/19 Richmond, BC – Hospital Patient Stole A Police Cruiser From RCMP – Smashed Into 3 Vehicles And Kept Going Only To Smash Head On With Another RCMP Cruiser – Severe Damage/Injuries

October 7, 2019

www.richmond-news.com

Just after noon on Monday, Richmond RCMP were called to the hospital after a report that a patient, who was not permitted to leave the premises, had fled on foot.

A Mountie found the man in question, but was unable to take him into custody before the suspect got into the police cruiser and drove off.

The man driving the stolen police car then collided with a civilian vehicle and an unmarked police car near Gilbert and Donald roads, just north of Blundell Road. He then collided with a second civilian vehicle on Gilbert, just south of Blundell, where he was arrested. 

A photo sent to the Richmond News by local resident Bob Wiliamson appears to show a marked police cruiser had ultimately halted the progress of the stolen cruiser. However, when the News asked BC RCMP for clarification, we were told that only the Independent Investigations Office of British Columbia (IIO BC) could answer the question. The News has reached out to the IIO BC.

The driver of the second civilian vehicle, a woman, was taken to hospital with what are believed to be serious, but non-life threatening injuries.

One RCMP officer was injured and is being treated for what are understood to be minor injuries.

Police are continuing to investigate the theft of the cruiser and the collisions. The area of Gilbert Road and Donald Road is currently cordoned off and inaccessible and motorists are asked to avoid the area. 

Because police vehicles were involved in the incident, the RCMP has called in the IIO BC to determine whether police actions or inactions are linked to the woman’s injuries.

A spokesperson for the BC Ambulance Service said they received a call at 12:37 p.m. for paramedics to attend “code 3” lights and sirens to a motor vehicle incident in the 8200 block of Gilbert Road.

“Paramedics responded to the police scene and transported one patient in serious condition to hospital,” added the spokesperson.