Movie-like Car Chase And Crash Ends With A Civilian Takedown In Pickering
Posted August 3, 2006 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
It had all the elements of a Hollywood blockbuster – a hero, a bad guy, a car chase and even an explosion.
But it didn’t happen on the big screen. It all took place on a busy street in Pickering.
Durham Regional Police have arrested a 21-year-old man after what began as a case of a stolen pick-up turned into something far more serious.
Just after midnight Wednesday, a witness phoned police to say he’d just seen a man break into a GMC truck on Everton St. and drive it away.
It didn’t take cops long to pick up the pick-up’s trail and they were soon chasing it down Kingston and Liverpool Road. When the man behind the wheel saw them coming, he hit the gas, sped through a red light, and collided with two other cars.
The truck then burst into flames. The driver headed into a gas station – maybe not the wisest choice for a burning vehicle – kicked out the window and took off on foot running.
But he didn’t get far. A witness who watched the drama unfold went after him, tackled the suspect and held him on the ground until police reached the scene.
Amazingly no one was injured, but all three cars involved in the crash were write-offs.
Corey Neil of Oshawa is facing a long list of charges, including theft, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, leaving the scene of an accident and breach of probation.
