(JENNIFER STAHN / iNFOnews.ca)

CHASE - A number of vehicle thefts and crashes had local officers hopping the last couple of weeks.

On Jan. 11 a single vehicle crash on Holding Road near Lee Creek was discovered. The 61-year-old driver later called police to explain he hit ice and went into the ditch. Two days later RCMP responded to an early morning crash on Highway 1 near Sorrento. A tractor-trailer hit heavy slush and skidded, which resulted in the vehicle jack-knifing and striking a rock face. The two occupants were not injured.

A tire blew on a vehicle while travelling along Chase-Falkland Road on Jan. 12, causing the driver to lose control and swerve into the ditch. It was not reported to officers, who discovered two days later. There were no injuries and the vehicle was towed. 

On Jan. 20 two vehicles collided on the Trans-Canada Highway near Stoney Flats Road. One vehicle was trying to pass another near the Hoffman’s Bluff construction zone when it spun out on black ice and hit the slower vehicle. Both vehicles hit the concrete barrier but neither driver was injured.

Several stolen vehicles were also reported during the last two weeks. A 1999 'commercial green' Dodge pickup, plate number JJ0105, was taken from a carport in the 300 block of Willow Street on Jan. 11. The following day the B.C. plates from a 2015 Dodge pickup belonging to the Neskonlith Indian Band administration were stolen, JM1177.

A 2001 Dodge work van was reported stolen Jan. 15. The vehicle was taken from a driveway in the 300 block of Arbutus Street in Chase. The truck was later recovered at Neskonlith Lake with a damaged ignition. Tools were also taken from the vehicle.

A break and enter in the 6000 block of Squilax-Anglemont Road in Magna Bay was reported on Jan. 23. A bedroom window was forced open on a cottage sometime over the last two months and hand tools were stolen. A second cottage in the area was also targeted, but no entry gained.

Chase RCMP were also involved in the rescue of two overdue snowmobilers near Celista on Jan. 22.

Check stops around the area resulted in one 90-day immediate roadside prohibition issued because of impairment and one unlicensed driver have their vehicle impounded.

Anyone with information about any of the crimes are asked to call Chase RCMP at 250-679-3221 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Jennifer Stahn at jstahn@infonews.ca or call 250-819-3723. To contact an editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.

— This story was corrected at 9:35 a.m., Jan. 28, 2016, with the proper plate number and colour for the truck stolen from Willow Street, as per an RCMP correction.

News from © iNFOnews, 2016