A 1999 Ford Escort, similar to the one pictured, was seized by police after it was caught going 35 kilometres per hour over the speed limit without functioning brakes. (NanaimoNewsNOW File Photo/BC Highway Patrol stock)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

can't make this up

Police stop speeding, impaired & uninsured driver without working brakes in Nanoose

Aug 25, 2021 | 12:00 PM

PARKSVILLE — A woman is facing several driving infractions, but she could be in a much worse position if not for a fast-thinking traffic patrol officer.

Cpl. Mike Halskov of BC Highway Patrol said their members had a speed trap set up on Highway 19 in Nanoose Bay on Saturday, Aug 21 when a northbound sedan roared by going 125 kilometers per hour, well over the posted 90 kilometres per hour speed limit.

He said an officer noticed the female driver gesturing wildly with a stressed look on her face.

“the vehicle wasn’t accelerating away from him, nor was it slowing down and it was clear something was going on. Based on the drivers behaviour, it was like ‘Oh, there must be a mechanical problem here’ and he just used his police car to execute this traffic stop.’”

Halskov said the officer maneuvered his car in front of the speeding vehicle, communicated his strategy to the motorist and used his car as if it were brakes to safely bring the vehicle to a stop.

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There was no damage to either vehicle and nobody was hurt.

“This is not something that’s really taught to us at training in Depot but I can tell you the officer involved in this particular incident has many, many years of experience on highway patrol, in the decades range. He’s used to this sort of stuff that could happen and he’s worked out in his mind what he would do if confronted with this situation,” Halskov told NanaimoNewsNOW.

He said the driver, a 33-year-old woman, initially provided a false name to police, then failed a roadside breath test.

The 1999 Ford Escort was not insured, did not belong to the woman and the license plates on the vehicle did not belong to the car or the woman driving.

An investigation is continuing on how the woman came to be driving the vehicle.

The vehicle had no operating hand or foot brake and had been reporting driving through several red lights in Nanaimo earlier.

The motorist had outstanding warrants related to being a prohibited driver. Several more Motor Vehicle Act charges are pending against the woman.

Police seized the vehicle for a mechanical inspection and won’t be allowed to be in use until its deemed road-worthy.

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