Police closed Highway 16 East for a short while this morning as they dealt with a dangerous driver headed towards the city who was eventually stopped after a spike belt was used.
Shortly after 8 a.m. the McBride RCMP received a report of an erratic driver on Highway 16 heading towards Prince George.
An officer with the Prince George RCMP was dispatched to intercept the driver as the vehicle approached the city. While en route, police received another report from the public advising that the driver of the vehicle was trying to deliberately force oncoming vehicles off the road or to cause a head-on collision. Police attempted to pull over the vehicle near Purden Lake, however the driver refused to stop. The driver continued to drive dangerously across the centre line at oncoming traffic, at a high rate of speed.
Highway 16 was closed at Old Cariboo Highway to minimize the risk to public safety. At approximately 9 a.m., officers utilized spike belts and other tactics to stop the vehicle near the intersection of Highway 16 and Giscome Road, just east of Prince George.
The adult male driver was arrested and remains in custody. A female passenger was also arrested, but released shortly after. There were no injuries reported and damage was minimal. The vehicle was not insured. The investigation is continuing.
“To have an on-coming vehicle drive right at you, narrowly missing a head on collision, is a terrifying situation for anyone driving on our highways,” said Cpl. Craig Douglass, spokesperson for the Prince George RCMP. “We are relieved and maybe a little shocked that this situation did not result in more serious injuries to members of the public, the police or the occupants of the car. I’m very proud of our officers, as well as those members of the public that called police without hesitation.”