Alleged truck thief causes crash

A suspect was arrested and a motorist was sent to the hospital with serious injuries following a crash in Rutland Wednesday morning.

Kelowna RCMP say a Central Okanagan traffic services officer came across a serious motor vehicle collision on Leathead Road near McPhee Street shortly after 7:30 a.m.

A southbound white Ford F-150 pickup truck crossed the centre line and collided almost head-on with a red Mitsubishi Outlander, said Cpl. Jesse O’Donaghey.

Kelowna firefighters extracted the driver from the Mitsubishi.

He sustained serious, potentially life-threatening injuries and was taken to the hospital.

The suspect driver of the Ford pickup allegedly fled the scene of the crash on foot.

Police set up a containment area and a police dog searched for the suspect.

“A suspect was taken into custody after being tracked by the police canine into the fenced compound of a nearby commercial property,” said O’Donaghey.

The male suspect faces numerous potential criminal charges and remains in custody.

The Ford pickup was reported stolen from the Shannon Lake area in West Kelowna.

The vehicle’s registered owner was tracking the truck with GPS.

Police were patrolling for the stolen truck when they happened upon the collision, said O’Donaghey.

A portion of Leathead Road remained closed Wednesday to allow a collision reconstructionist of the RCMP integrated collusion analysis and reconstruction services to conduct a full examination of the scene.

Witnesses who have not yet spoken to police are asked to call the RCMP at 250-762-3300 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 to remain anonymous.