A New Denver woman found herself an unwilling participant in a long-distance police chase Tuesday morning.
Sue Edge says she was carjacked by a man while driving south on Highway 6 just south of Silverton, a small community on Slocan Lake.
“I was heading to the Castlegar airport because I was flying today to go visit my family,” Edge told the Castlegar News. “I come around Enterprise Creek … and this guy is right behind me and hits the back of my truck.”
Edge says she did what she was taught to do: she stopped and got out of the vehicle to exchange information with the other driver.
“I got out to find out what the damage was — he ran up beside me, jumped in the truck and took off.”
Edge says the man didn’t say anything to her, or threaten her in any way, “but his eyes were beet red.”
Edge grabbed on to the inside door handle to try to stop the carjacker, and was pulled a few yards before she let go. She says she’s suffered some damage to her elbow as a result.
“I jumped into the dude’s car — because I am that type of person — I was just going to go after him,” she says.
Just then an RCMP vehicle from New Denver showed up. They had already been following the man in the car.
Edge’s truck was then abandoned in Slocan City, about 30 kilometers from the carjacking. She says he took nothing — backpack and wallet were untouched.
Edge was taken to hospital in New Denver, treated and released.
“I am not as shaken as I was,” said Edge later that afternoon. “I am in pain, but it is OK.”
The incidents started with an erratic driver complaint in Nakusp, followed by Edge’s carjacking, a stolen-vehicle swap in Slocan City, a second vehicle swap in Krestova, deployment by RCMP of a spike belt and finally a foot chase.
A 26-year-old male will be facing a number of charges related to the incidents including robbery, theft of a motor vehicle, possession of stolen property, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, flight from police and failing to stop at the scene of an accident. Police expect to add more charges to that list as the investigation continues.
Carjacking and chase suspect facing charges in West Kootenay spree
