Here are B.C.'s top 10 most-read stories of 2018

From international tension to tragedy at home — and a jogger who nearly got caught somewhere in between — here are the top 10 stories that captured your attention in 2018.

10. Saudi students file for asylum in Canada as deadline to return home passes

At least 20 students from Saudi Arabia filed asylum claims to stay in Canada as the deadline for their departure passed on Aug. 21. The Saudi government demanded more than 8,000 students pack up and head home — uprooting their Canadian lives — after Ottawa condemned the arrests of activists in the kingdom.

9. Canadian Tire employees fired for parking lot reimbursement scam

Five longtime Canadian Tire staffers were fired for scamming the company's customer parking reimbursement policy, which compensates customers who pay to park while they shop. The workers challenged their firings over the petty theft — sometimes amounting to just $2.25 a pop — but lost.

8. Teen uses parents' credit card to rent house, throws 'uncontrolled' party

A 14-year-old girl and her parents were on the hook for $20,000 worth of damage to a West Vancouver home after the teen threw an out-of-control party. Police said the girl had used her parents' credit card to rent the house — without permission. 

7. Man sues RBC after high-performance car seized by mistake

Tage Kendall, 29, sued the Royal Bank of Canada for $35,000 after the institution seized his much loved, high-performance sedan over a defaulted loan. The lien, it turns out, had been attached to the wrong vehicle.

6. Smallville actress charged in relation to NXIVM group accused of branding women

Allison Mack, best known for her role in the CW's, Smallville, was charged with sex trafficking for allegedly convincing women to join a secret sub-group of the cult-like organization NXIVM. Prosecutors claimed the women who joined the group looking for spiritual and physical betterment ended up branded and acting as slaves, with Mack as their "master."

5. Victoria father dies after foam pit accident at Richmond trampoline park

Jay Greenwood, 46, died after summersaulting into a foam pit at Extreme Air Park in Richmond, B.C. on Jan. 20. His widow, Tanya Hayes, later sued the park and an unnamed employee on behalf of their three children.

4. Former NHL enforcer faces an uncertain future 

In February, CBC News told the story of Stephen Peat — a former NHL combatant who found himself living in his truck, struggling with the physical, financial and legal fallout of injuries he suffered during his career. He said he suffers from extreme headaches, memory loss and an inability to focus for long periods of time — all symptoms associated with chronic traumatic encephalopathy or CTE.

3. Adventurers killed in Shannon Falls tragedy shared joys of travel online

Three friends with a combined social media following in the millions were killed in an accident at Shannon Falls, near Squamish, in July. Megan Scraper is believed to have slipped and fallen over the rocks at the top, with her partner Alexey Lyakh and their friend Ryker Gamble jumping after her to try and save her.

The trio was known for sharing their passion for world travel online and shared a message that "life isn't about responsibilities."

2. Tsunami warning in Alaska

A magnitude 7.9 earthquake on Jan. 23, southeast of Alaska, prompted a tsunami warning for the entire coast of B.C., as well as a tsunami watch for the west coast of the U.S. Some coastal communities on Vancouver Island activated their tsunami sirens in the middle of the night, warning thousands to get out of bed and move to higher ground.

1. Jogger who accidentally crossed U.S. border from B.C. detained for 2 weeks

Celina Roman, 19, was out for a run along the beach just south of White Rock, B.C., when she unknowingly trotted across the American border. She was arrested by U.S. Border Patrol and ended up in a state detention centre for two weeks before immigration officials on both sides of the border allowed her back into Canada.