Abbotsford Police arrest impaired driver following pursuit and crash

A 49-year-old man was arrested in Abbotsford after a pursuit involving an unmarked Abbotsford Police Department (AbbyPD) vehicle. The incident began on Sunday evening when a Gang Crime Unit officer was nearly sideswiped by a pickup truck on McCallum Road near Highway 1.

According to police, the driver initially appeared to slow for a traffic stop before accelerating and fleeing. The vehicle was observed driving over a concrete boulevard and swerving erratically before crashing into a utility pole near Huggins Avenue and Laurnell Crescent. The collision caused a transformer to fall onto the truck and brought live hydro lines down into the roadway, preventing immediate arrest until BC Hydro crews could secure the area.

Upon being detained, the driver provided breath samples measuring twice the legal limit. The Abbotsford Police Department is recommending charges including impaired driving, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, flight from police, and mischief. No injuries were reported.