A 60-year-old Surrey man is in an induced coma in hospital after suffering “substantial, lower-body-crushing” injuries when he was run over by a car thief in his own driveway Sunday morning.
Police, firefighters and paramedics were called to a home in the 5900-block of 168A Street just after 3:30 a.m. March 6. They found the victim lying in the driveway.
Investigation is ongoing, however, police say the man was run over as an unidentified person was stealing a black Acura MDX from the driveway.
The victim was apparently investigating some suspicious noise when he came across the theft in progress, police say. He was struck as the vehicle was driven out of the driveway.
There were no known witnesses, however, a family member reporting the incident told police they both heard and felt the impact.
“The collision was of such force that it caused the house to shake,” Cpl. Drew Grainger said.
“It’s a senseless and reckless act.”
Serious Crimes Unit investigators have deemed the incident an aggravated assault.
The Acura was recovered a couple blocks away from the home. Police believe the theft of a 1995 red Ford Windstar from “the same immediate vicinity” early Friday may be related to Sunday’s incident.
The Windstar was recovered late Monday in the 5900-block of 133A Street, following a public appeal for help locating it.
Police do not have a description of the assailant, and are appealing for anyone with information on either incident to call the Surrey RCMP detachment at 604-599-0502.
The tragic aspect of Sunday’s incident is also a reminder to citizens to not attempt to confront anyone they catch in the act of committing a crime, Grainger said. Instead, document as many details as possible and call 911 immediately.
“People who are involved in these acts are often very desperate… often armed. They have nothing to lose and will do anything they can to get away,” Grainger said.
