RCMP arrest 52-year-old after 6.8-kilometre Trans-canada Highway drive

RCMP arrested and ticketed a commercial truck driver after a wrong-way drive on the trans-canada highway through the West Shore stretched for almost seven kilometres on June 13. Officers began getting calls around 4:40 a.m. about the truck near the Helmcken Road exit and moved in to stop it.

Helmcken Road to Leigh Road

The truck did not stop right away. Police found it and tried to pull it over, but the driver kept going until the vehicle came to a stop near the Leigh Road exit, a span Google Maps places at 6.8 kilometres.

The driver was a 52-year-old from the Vancouver area. RCMP arrested him for dangerous operation of a motor vehicle and later issued tickets for driving without due care and attention and failure to stop for police.

RCMP response on June 13

Police towed the truck from the scene and released the driver pending further investigation. RCMP said there have not been reports of injuries.

The force also said its investigation ruled out alcohol or drug impairment and that “and it appears that driver confusion contributed to the driving actions.” The matter was referred to the Commercial Vehicle Safety and Enforcement branch and the Superintendent of Motor Vehicles.

Tickets and referral

The tickets carry $368 and six penalty points for driving without due care and attention, and $144 and three penalty points for failure to stop for police. For the driver, the immediate result is an arrest, two tickets, and a safety referral that moves the case beyond the roadside stop and into provincial oversight.