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Saanich man crashes after driving 120 km/h near elementary school

Police arrest 21-year-old for dangerous driving
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Saanich Police arrested a 21-year-old man for dangerous driving after he drove 120 km/h in a 50 km/h zone. (Black Press File Photo)

A 21-year-old Saanich man will appear in court next month after driving 120 km/h in a 50 km/h zone near elementary school.

Police arrested the man Monday after he had crashed his vehicle, while navigating a curve at the intersection of Royal Oak Dr and Cordova Bay Road.

“This was a tremendously dangerous situation” said Sgt. Jereme Leslie. “The actions of the driver put the public at significant risk and it’s extremely lucky no one was using the sidewalk were the vehicle left the road. Someone could have easily been injured or killed.”

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Jan. 8 around 8:30 p.m. a Saanich police officer was driving west in the 1100 Block of Royal Oak Drive near Lochside Elementary School when the officer spotted a 2017 black Ford Fusion speeding eastbound on Royal Oak Drive.

According to Saanich police, the Ford Fusion was attempting to overtake another east bound vehicle and was travelling at around 120 km/h in the 50 km/h zone.

“As the Ford Fusion was now driving into oncoming traffic, the officer had to take evasive action in order not to be hit,” said Leslie. “As the vehicle passed, the officer was able to conduct a U-turn, in order to pull him over; however, the offending vehicle was already out of sight.”

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Police were able to arrest the man at the scene of his subsequent crash for dangerous driving. He has since been released from custody.

Saanich police ask additional witnesses to come forward, after already speaking with two witnesses who had been standing on the sidewalk near the crash.

Anyone who witnessed the incident or saw driving behaviour prior to the crash is asked to contact Saanich police at 250-475-4321.


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wolfgang.depner@saanichnews.com



Wolf Depner

About the Author: Wolf Depner

I joined the national team with Black Press Media in 2023 from the Peninsula News Review, where I had reported on Vancouver Island's Saanich Peninsula since 2019.
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