A man has been charged after a violent crash involving a police vehicle in Vancouver’s West End Friday.
The Vancouver Police Department says the incident was first reported around 5:30 a.m., when the driver of a Jeep was seen acting erratically near Comox and Broughton streets, allegedly crashing into fences and plants in the Nelson Park dog area.
“Several witnesses nearby had to scramble to get out of the way of the suspect’s vehicle,” a police statement described.
The VPD says the driver then struck a senior who was riding a motorized mobility scooter, and finally came to a stop after crashing into a responding police vehicle.
Const. Darren Wong says the final crash destroyed the police vehicle and flipped the suspect’s vehicle on its side.
“The suspect was trapped inside the vehicle and arrested near Comox and Bute streets,” said Wong.
“Multiple ambulances responded along with Vancouver Fire Rescue Services, who were able to free the man from the wreckage.”
In an update Tuesday, the VPD says a 34-year-old man, with a history of police interactions in B.C. and Saskatchewan, is now facing four counts of assault causing bodily harm.
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The suspect remains in custody, police say, while the senior citizen remains in serious condition in hospital.
The officers were reportedly released from hospital the same day.
Investigators are still seeking witnesses, who are encouraged to contact the Major Crimes Unit at 604-717-2500.