Fast chase ends in flames

VERNON – Two hours after police attempted to pull over a speeding van, the same vehicle was found fully engulfed in flames.

The Vernon Fire Department extinguished the car fire by Polson Park around 2 a.m. today, but is leaving the rest to police.

RCMP spokesperson Gord Molendyk says the fire is suspicious and police will be investigating.

The vehicle, a red van, was first seen by the Vernon/ North Okanagan rural unit around 11:40 p.m. Thursday speeding along Otter Lake Rd. in Spallumcheen. The driver failed to halt at a stop sign, and officers attempted to pull the person over.

The vehicle fled at a fast pace and police gave up the pursuit. However, it wouldn’t be the last they saw of it.

The same van turned up two hours later near 32 Street and 25 Avenue in Vernon completely on fire.

Molendyk confirms the vehicle is from Vernon and says police know who the owner is, though they haven’t spoken to him yet.

The Vernon Fire Department put out a different car fire earlier this week. Deputy fire chief Lawrie Skolrood says the owner was working on the car when it caught fire and the incident is not suspicious.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Charlotte Helston at chelston@infotelnews.ca or call 250-309-5230. To contact the editor, email mjones@infotelnews.ca or call 250-718-2724.