A 24-year-old driver of Holyrood was arrested by the RNC after fleeing from RCMP Traffic Services East in an attempted traffic stop on the Trans-Canada Highway on July 2, 2020.
During the afternoon, RCMP Traffic Services East were stopped on the side of the TCH near Butter Pot Park with two vehicles that were apprehended for traveling at 156 km/h on the eastbound side of the highway. Both drivers were charged for speeding, issued driving licence suspensions, and their vehicles were seized and impounded.
While the officers were dealing with those traffic stops, a Honda Civic was observed travelling on the westbound side of the TCH at an extremely high rate of speed. The driver of that vehicle put the window down and looked at the officers while driving by. Officers obtained the speed of the Honda Civic as 175 km/h.
Another officer with RCMP Traffic Services East set up near Salmonier Line, waited for the Honda Civic and observed it traveling at a speed of 178 km/h. A traffic stop was attempted but the driver refused to pull over and continued at a high rate of speed. In the interest of public safety, a pursuit was not initiated.
A description of the vehicle was provided to other RCMP officers, as well as to the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary. The vehicle and driver were later found at a gas station in Conception Bay South, where the driver was arrested by the RNC without incident and was turned over to the RCMP. The driver, who was issued a driver's licence suspension, now faces charges of dangerous driving, flight from police, speeding, and operating a vehicle without insurance and is set to attend court on October 16, 2020. Police seized and impounded the vehicle.
RCMP NL thanks the RNC for their assistance in this investigation, as well as the number of callers who reported concerns about the dangerous operation of the Honda Civic. RCMP Traffic Services East asks anyone who may have dash cam footage of this vehicle, to please contact police at (709) 229-3892.