180 km/h highway ride brings charges
A 42-year-old Duncan man is facing impaired driving charges after a high-speed joyride down Highway 14 ended with his vehicle smashing through a fence and plunging down a ravine.
Sooke RCMP are looking for witnesses who saw a red 2015 Jeep Wrangler speeding between Langford and Sooke about 1:20 p.m. on Thursday. The westbound Jeep was reportedly travelling 180 kilometres an hour and passing cars in a double solid line nopassing zone.
“So many calls were received on 911 it overwhelmed the south Island communication centre,” said Sooke RCMP detachment commander Staff Sgt. Jeffrey McArthur.
At the 5800 block of Sooke Road, near Woodlands Road, the vehicle veered off the pavement, ran over a bus stop bench, hit a utility pole, knocked out a fence and severed several trees. The Jeep ended up in a ravine, and was demolished in the crash.
Police found alcohol and a loaded handgun at the crash scene.
A 42-year-old Duncan man was treated at Victoria General Hospital for non-life-threatening injuries and taken to the Sooke RCMP cells, where he remains in custody.
He is facing charges of possession of an unregistered restricted weapon, impaired driving, refusing to provide a breath sample and dangerous driving.
Sooke RCMP ask anyone who saw the vehicle to call them at 250-642-5241.