A Delta man is facing a litany charges after he ran down women in separate areas of Lower Lonsdale in a drug-fuelled driving rampage, according to police.
The disturbing episode started at about 8:30 p.m. Monday when the suspect, driving a blue Mustang, called out to a man and woman who were on foot near West Esplanade and Semisch Avenue. After the brief exchange, he hit the gas and rammed the woman, toppling her over the hood of his car before speeding away, police alleged.
Moments later, the man pulled up to another group of women a block east of the first encounter and ordered them into his vehicle. When they refused, he again drove into one of them, according to police, this time pinning her against a pole before veering off.
Over the next few minutes North Vancouver RCMP, already on the hunt for the man, were flooded with calls from witnesses who said they saw his vehicle strike another car near the busy Keith Road and Lonsdale Avenue intersection. The driver of that car followed the Mustang until it stopped and allegedly rammed her car vehicle two more times before again speeding away.
A few minutes later the driver called out to another woman farther up the hill and again ordered her into his car. When she refused, he allegedly threatened to kill her and then fled.
Mounties finally caught up with the suspect two blocks north, boxed his Mustang in and arrested him. Officers later performed a sobriety test on him and concluded he was on drugs.
The two pedestrians who had been run down were taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Police are calling for multiple charges connected to the incident, including impaired driving, uttering threats, dangerous driving causing bodily harm, assault with a weapon the vehicle itself and leaving the scene of an accident.
"We are deeply relieved that nobody was more seriously hurt," said Sgt. Peter DeVries, a spokesman for the North Vancouver RCMP, in a release. "Two factors can be credited for the absence of more dire consequences: the swift and aggressive response of the RCMP officers, and sheer luck."
The mans name hasnt been released.
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