THUNDER BAY – Thunder Bay Police report that On Tuesday afternoon (June 28 2016) units responded to two crashes on the City’s south side just after 4:00 p.m. The first call came into the Communications Center at 4:16 p.m. from the residents of the 400 east block of Francis St. The callers reported that a silver Dodge Ram pick-up truck had crashed into a pole, fire hydrant and a fence after it spun out of control at high speed when rounding the bend between south Syndicate Ave and Francis St. The male driver had managed to free the truck and then fled at high speed westbound on Francis St.
This incident was first reported on NNL.
This vehicle description matched the vehicle that had been observed by two officers in an unmarked police vehicle about a half hour prior. The officers saw the Dodge pick-up northbound on the Expressway near Arthur St at speeds estimated to be exceeding 130 km/hr and it had nearly collided with another vehicle. Those officers were unable to pursue because they were not equipped with emergency lights and they had lost sight of it.
At 4:23 p.m. all emergency services were dispatched to the intersection of Brown St and Arthur St. Investigation revealed the same silver Dodge Ram pick-up truck was northbound on Brown St and had failed to stop for the stop sign. It struck a westbound black Chevrolet pick-up in the intersection. Both vehicles were extensively damaged. Witnesses reported that the Dodge truck was travelling at high speed prior to the collision, and expect that had the collision not happened, the Dodge truck would have struck the McDonald’s restaurant.
A 28 year old male resident of Fort Francis was taken into custody at the scene. Officers found an unloaded airsoft type handgun on the seat of his vehicle subsequent to his arrest.
This male has been charged with dangerous driving, impaired driving and driving with more than 80 mg of alcohol/100 ml blood, and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose
Police would like to speak to any witnesses that may have watched any of these three events but have yet to be contacted.
