18-year-old with 'fictitious' driver's licence arrested for riding motorcycle at 209 km/h in Merrit, B.C., police say
Mounties say they stopped an 18-year-old Chilliwack man with a novice motorcycle licence and a separate "fictitious" driver's licence after multiple speeding and flight from police incidents earlier this month.
The man was arrested on May 14, according to a news release from BC Highway Patrol.
Around 7 p.m. that day, a BC Highway Patrol officer conducting speed enforcement on Highway 5 at the Juliet Bridge near Merritt saw a motorcycle heading north at "a high rate of speed."
"The officer established that the motorcycle was traveling at a speed of 199 km/h within a posted 100 km/h zone and that it matched the description of a speeding motorcycle that had earlier failed to stop for police on May 12, 2023," the BCHP said in its release.
The motorcyclist failed to stop on this occasion as well, police said, adding that the officer opted not to pursue him "in the interest of public safety."
Instead, the officer radioed ahead to his colleagues, who established that the motorcycle had reached a maximum speed of 209 km/h before exiting the highway and getting onto Voght Street in Merritt, police said.
A Merritt RCMP officer was waiting for him, authorities said.
"The driver of the motorcycle performed a U-turn in a failed attempt to get away, however he wiped out and was quickly taken into custody by the officer," reads the BCHP release.
The man's motorcycle was impounded, and police confirmed it was the same one that had fled from officers two days earlier.
The 18-year-old rider was also the owner of the bike, according to police, who added that he has a novice motorcycle licence and was also carrying "a separate fictitious driver’s licence."
He was released from custody, but is facing several charges and scheduled to appear in court next month, police said.
"Motorcycle safety can not be overstated," said Cpl. J.R. Michaud of BC Highway Patrol, in the release.
"You aren’t inside the metal frame of a larger vehicle that could protect you in the event of a collision. Riding a motorcycle in this manner shows a complete disregard for the safety of the public, and we’re glad that BC Highway Patrol was able to work together with Merritt RCMP to bring this incident to a safe conclusion with no injuries."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Ottawa public school board, 3 Toronto-area school boards launch lawsuit against social media giants
The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board and three school boards in the Toronto-area have launched legal action against social media giants, accusing them of "disrupting students' fundamental right to education."
Several flight attendants from Pakistan have gone missing after landing in Canada
Multiple flight attendants from Pakistan International Airlines have abandoned their jobs and are believed to have sought asylum in Canada in the past year and a half, a spokesperson for the government-owned airline says.
Statistics Canada reports real GDP up 0.6 per cent in January as Quebec strikes end
Statistics Canada says real gross domestic product grew 0.6 per cent in January, helped by the end of public sector strikes in Quebec in November and December.
Tipping is off the table at this Toronto restaurant
A Toronto restaurant introduced a surprising new rule that reduced the cost of a meal and raised the salaries of staff.
Rainfall warnings of up to 90 mm among weather alerts in effect for 7 provinces
Rainfall warnings of up to 90 millimetres, air quality advisories and other alerts have been issued for seven Canadian provinces, according to the latest forecasts.
King Charles calls for acts of friendship in first public remarks since Kate's cancer diagnosis
King Charles III gave public remarks for Maundy Thursday, addressing the importance of acts of friendship, following his and Catherine, Princess of Wales’ cancer diagnoses.
Ukrainian child asylum seekers in St. John’s get class of their own
Roughly 50 children will gathered in a St. John’s classroom for the first time on Saturday for unique lessons on Ukrainian language, culture and history.
A Nigerian woman reviewed some tomato puree online. Now she faces jail
A Nigerian woman who wrote an online review of a can of tomato puree is facing imprisonment after its manufacturer accused her of making a “malicious allegation” that damaged its business.
Donald Trump assails judge and his daughter after gag order in N.Y. hush-money criminal case
Donald Trump lashed out Wednesday at the New York judge who put him under a gag order that bars him from commenting publicly about witnesses, prosecutors, court staff and jurors in his upcoming hush-money criminal trial.