High-speed police chase ends with semi-truck in Fraser River

A semi-truck believed to have been stolen in Langley ended up in the Fraser River Thursday following a high-speed police chase.

Mounties say they first made note of the semi-truck around 7:35 p.m. PT Wednesday when officers saw it bearing mismatched licence plates in the area of 24 Avenue and 206 Street in Langley

A few hours later, shortly after midnight, officers attempted a vehicle stop on the truck, but say the driver tried to ram into their vehicles as soon as they activated their lights, striking one. 

Police say officers tried to disengage, but say the suspect — later confirmed to be a 40-year-old man — continued to ram their vehicles before fleeing.

Officers managed to deflate the semi-truck's front-right tire with a spike belt, but the suspect continued to speed away.

They say the man's driving posed a significant risk to public and police safety, so officers initiated a chase "to stop the threat."

The chase led police into Surrey and through multiple residential neighbourhoods.

Police say they deployed a second spike belt and disabled the semi-truck's rear tires, but the suspect continued to drive "dangerously at high speeds," disregarding red lights and overtaking multiple vehicles.

The pursuit continued northbound on 176 St. to Highway 17, then westbound into Surrey's Bridgeview area.

Police say in a "final reckless manoeuvre," the suspect drove the semi-truck into a public dock area with several dozen people, continued off an embankment and into the Fraser River — then fled the submerged vehicle before being arrested nearby.

"This was an incredibly dangerous situation involving a suspect who showed zero regard for public safety or the lives of our officers," Sgt. Zynal Sharoom with the Langley RCMP said in a statement.

He said the suspect was taken into custody and remains there pending further investigation. 

Anyone with information on the incident is asked to get in touch with the Langley RCMP.