Two people were injured Monday afternoon after a hospital patient stole a police cruiser and crashed into two vehicles, including another RCMP vehicles, said police.
Police tweeted about the incident, confirming that a “serious collision” on Gilbert Road, south of Blundell, was being investigated.
#TrafficAlert We are investigating a serious motor vehicle collision on Gilbert Road south of Blundell. The area will be closed while we investigate. Please divert and take alternate routes #RichmondBC
— Richmond RCMP (@RichmondRCMP) October 7, 2019
A video was also shared on social media Monday afternoon, showing the scene of a crash, in which a badly damaged police cruiser can be seen.
View this post on Instagram
Several hours later, BC RCMP confirmed that officers were called to a local area hospital for a report that a patient – who was not permitted to leave the premises – had fled on foot, just after 12 pm.
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An RCMP officer located the man but was unable to take him into custody before the man got into the police vehicle and drove away, police said.
The man driving the stolen police vehicle collided with a civilian vehicle and an unmarked police vehicle near Gilbert Road and Donald Road before colliding with a second civilian vehicle in the 8200-block of Gilbert Road, where he was arrested.
The driver of the second civilian vehicle, a woman, was transported to a local area hospital with what are believed to be serious but non-life threatening injuries.
One RCMP officer was injured and is being treated for what are believed to be minor injuries.
The Richmond RCMP General Investigation Section (GIS) and the Integrated Collision Analyst and Reconstruction Service (ICARS) are continuing to investigate the theft and collisions.
The IIO BC said it is now investigating to determine whether police actions or inactions are linked to the woman’s injuries, and said no further information will be released by police.