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Chaos on the West Shore: RCMP respond to canoe theft, suspicious wires and more

No major injuries reported during eventful morning
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Const. Nancy Saggar addresses media at West Shore RCMP headquarters after a chaotic day for officers in the region. (Nina Grossman/News staff)

With an early morning collision, suspicious wires, a canoe theft and a driver going the wrong way on the Trans-Canada Highway – West Shore RCMP had a busy Thursday morning.

Const. Nancy Saggar said the detachment had about 15 calls for service between 7 and 10 a.m., but fortunately, there were no major injuries resulting from the calls.

Early morning Trans-Canada Highway collision

A three-car collision eastbound at around 7 a.m. on Highway 1 sent at least one individual to hospital with whiplash-type injuries, said Saggar.

Suspicious wires

It turned out to be nothing more than some excess wiring, but police had to stop both foot and vehicle traffic this morning when a call came in about a suspicious package near Ruth King Elementary School in Langford.

Goldstream Avenue between Jacklin and Matson roads was closed while police secured the scene and ensured the wiring was not a threat.

RELATED: Threat cleared after suspicious package found near Langford school

Canoe theft

In what may be one of the most bizarre calls of the day, RCMP apprehended a man who allegedly stole both a truck and a canoe Thursday morning.

The man was initially spotted walking along the barriers on the Trans-Canada Highway near the Helmcken Road overpass just after 9 a.m.

When two people stopped to talk to him, he allegedly hopped in their truck and took off at a high speed before crashing the vehicle into a telephone pole on Helmcken Road.

The man then took a canoe from a home on Chancellor Avenue and attempted to get away through the Portage Inlet.

With the help of View Royal Fire Rescue’s marine unit, police were successful in talking him back to shore where he was then taken into custody.

Const. Saggar said the man is in custody but his mental health remains a priority.

READ MORE: Police arrest man who allegedly crashed truck, stole canoe in West Shore

Wrong way

RCMP received multiple calls of a grey Ford Ranger truck going the wrong way on the Trans-Canada Highway underneath the Millstream Road overpass Thursday morning.

An officer from the Capital Regional District’s Integrated Road Safety Unit intercepted the driver, who was in his 90s.

The man had become confused and made an improper U-turn. He was issued a violation ticket and police followed him home to ensure he arrived safely.

Saggar said it was incredible there were no serious injuries during any of Thursday’s events.

“Especially, given the individual who was driving on the wrong side of the highway,” she said. “The potential for a collision was huge.”


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