B.C. girl, 13, arrested after stealing parents’ car, speeding and crashing vehicle

NANAIMO — A 13-year-old girl in Nanaimo, B.C., faces more than scolding and could be charged after taking her parents vehicle, speeding at double the limit, then crashing after trying to evade police.

RCMP say an officer on patrol saw the vehicle going 118 kilometres per hour in a 50 zone through downtown Nanaimo at 2 a.m. on July 25.

The officer gave chase as it accelerated away, then called off the pursuit.

A short time later police were notified about a vehicle that had gone off the roadway and the alleged driver was the teenage girl who took the vehicle without permission.

No one was hurt but the vehicle sustained some damage and was towed from the scene.

The girl was taken into custody before being released to a guardian, and RCMP Operations Officer Donovan Tait says she may face charges for a situation that could have ended much differently with high speeds and an inexperienced driver on the roads.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 12, 2026.