A pair of young car thieves caused damage and a widespread police pursuit late last week, but one did say sorry to his victim.
The 15- and 16-year-old boys stole a green 1997 GMC pickup from Prince George and attempted to get away down Highway 16 heading east. The 15-year-old is believed to be the driver.
At Geddes Road the thieves tried to turn north off the highway but struck an oncoming vehicle, a white compact car with one occupant, a 52-year-old Prince George woman.
Both vehicles were disabled on the spot. The pickup ended up in the snowbank on the northeast side of intersection.
The youth jumped out of the truck, but the suspect driver did not fully turn his back on his crimes.
"Before fleeing, the 15-year-old checked on the condition of the driver of the other vehicle and used her cell phone to dial 911," said Prince George RCMP spokesman Cpl. Craig Douglass.
He apologized to the woman, then ran south across the highway, following his fellow suspect down Geddes Road towards Tabor Lake.
The apology may have softened the hearts of Mounties, but it did not soften their pursuing footsteps. While an ambulance and trained volunteers from the Ferndale-Tabor Fire Department came to look after the driver of the white car, police cordoned off the area the thieves fled into on foot.
Police took up positions on Stewart Road, Giscome Road, Highway 16 East, etc. while a tracking team went directly after the fleeing suspects. The 15-year-old was in custody within minutes, but the search went longer for the older fugitive.
"With the assistance of residents in the area who provided information, police service dog Azar tracked the second suspect into a wooded area through waist deep snow," said Douglass. "[The suspect] received minor bite wounds and was taken to hospital for treatment, before being transported to the detachment for processing."
The driver of the white car was taken to University Hospital with undisclosed injuries believed by police to be non-life-threatening.
The 15-year-old suspect faces charges, including driving without a license, leaving the scene of a motor vehicle incident and possession of stolen property. The 16-year-old's legal position was still being assessed by authorities.
