Date: November 23, 2020
File: 20-26797 and 20-26798
On November 23, 2020 at 2: 50 p.m. Saanich Police received a report of a single-vehicle collision in the 4500 block of Interurban Road. Witnesses on scene saw the driver run from the scene after the vehicle crashed into a forested area and came to rest against a tree.
Once police arrived, they saw a person in the bushes that appeared to match the description of the driver, however, attempts to locate that person were unsuccessful.
At 3:15 p.m., as additional police officers were patrolling the area looking for this driver, a 9-1-1 call was received from a home in the 4000 block of Markham Road of a home invasion in progress. A resident explained that a man covered in blood had gained access to their home and was rambling and not making any sense.
Police attended this home and arrested the man for Break and Enter. We suspect this man to be the driver of the crashed vehicle and avenues are currently being investigated to confirm this to be the case. We do not believe there was anyone else in the vehicle with the driver at the time of the crash.
The man was taken to hospital for treatment related to the collision and his injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.
There does not appear to be any connection with the man and the residence on Markham Street. Investigators are trying to piece together all aspects of this incident, including what led to the crash, why the driver fled the scene and the reason this individual entered a private residence without invitation. Impairment by drugs and / or alcohol is not being ruled out, nor are components related to mental health.
“The health and safety of this individual is first and foremost. The investigation will take some time to paint the entire picture of what happened this afternoon. The impact this vehicle sustained as a result of the crash was significant and it is remarkable that anyone was able to walk away.”
Cst. Markus Anastasiades
Public Information and Communications Officer