Road rage at ferry terminal

A driver was arrested for pulling a knife on another driver in a case of line-cutting and road rage at the Brentwood Bay ferry terminal Monday morning.

One man cut another off in line, which led to a yelling match as the two waited to get on the ferry to Mill Bay at 8:40 a.m.

The situation escalated when one of the men pulled a knife, said Central Saanich Police Const. Ryan Johnston. Witnesses called 911 and officers carried out a “highrisk takedown,” Johnston said. With guns drawn, officers demanded that the man exit his vehicle with his hands up.

He complied and was arrested. He is facing charges of possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose.

The man is a tradesman and had knife in his truck as part of his tool kit, Johnston said.

B.C. Ferries spokesman Darin Guenette said road rage happens occasionally, but rarely at the smaller ferry terminals.

“We do see that kind of thing sometimes, mostly only at the larger terminals,” he said. The smaller terminals on the inner-island routes have small holding areas which allows few opportunities to cut the queue, he said.

“But sometimes, if it’s really busy, people are going on holidays, it’s hot out, you can get customers who get into arguments but it’s not extremely common.”

The situation caused a 25-minute delay on the MV Klitsa sailing between Brentwood Bay and Mill Bay.