On May 28, 2020, at approximately 4:40 p.m. an officer with the Integrated Road Safety Unit was conducting enforcement on foot at McKenzie Avenue at Borden Street and attempted to stop a vehicle for a traffic violation. As the officer was directing the driver into the parking lot, the driver suddenly accelerated and sped off westbound on McKenzie Avenue toward Quadra Street. The vehicle was described as a black Mercedes SUV.
Just minutes later, a Saanich Police officer in the area came across a two-vehicle collision on McKenzie Avenue at Rainbow Street. One of the vehicles involved was a black Mercedes SUV, of which multiple witnesses on scene told police that the driver had fled on foot toward Rainbow Park. Additional officers attended and were able to locate and arrest the driver, a 38-year-old Langford man, who is now facing four criminal and four motor vehicle act charges including Dangerous Driving, Refusing to Provide a Breath Sample, Flight from Police, Driving While Prohibited, No Driver’s Licence, Fail to Remain at the Scene of a Collision, Red Light at Intersection and Fail to Obey Traffic Sign. It was confirmed that the Mercedes was the same vehicle that had fled from police.
The driver of the other vehicle sustained serious injuries, but they are not believed to be life-threatening.
Eastbound traffic on McKenzie Avenue was closed for over four hours as police remained on scene to investigate.
“We are asking the public to check their dashcam footage if they were in the area of McKenzie Avenue between Borden Street and Rainbow Street between the time of 4:35 p.m. and 4:45 p.m. If you believe you witnessed anything related to this event, please contact the Saanich Police at 250-475-4321 and refer to file 20-11586.”
Cst. Markus Anastasiades
Public Information and Communications Officer
May 29, 2020
File 20-11586