Seat belt infraction prompts dangerous drive through Merritt

Jan 19, 2016 | 10:02 AM

MERRITT, B.C. — A Red Deer, Alta., man who didn’t bother to buckle up is now facing several charges in southern British Columbia, and failure to use a seatbelt is the least of his problems.

RCMP near Merritt say officers tried to pull over a westbound red Ford pickup last Friday because the driver was not wearing a seatbelt and appeared to have loose cargo in the back of the truck.

Instead the man, accompanied by a female passenger, began to drive erratically along Highway 97C, racing through a red light and attempting a sharp turn onto the Coquihalla Highway access, before skidding off the road.

Officers say the man and woman tried to run on foot but were quickly arrested.