NANAIMO — A 13-year-old girl is facing possible charges after police say she took a parent’s vehicle without permission, outran a patrol’s attempt to stop her and later crashed the car in central Nanaimo in the early hours of July 25.
Police locate vehicle, youth arrested; no injuries reported
According to a Nanaimo RCMP press release, an officer on patrol observed the vehicle travelling southbound on Terminal Avenue at about 2 a.m. and recorded its speed at 118 kilometres per hour in a posted 50 km/h zone. When the officer attempted to make a traffic stop, the vehicle accelerated and did not comply. The pursuing officer discontinued the stop for safety reasons and alerted other units.
Shortly afterward, police received a separate report that the same vehicle had gone off the roadway in central Nanaimo. Officers located the damaged vehicle, conducted a brief search of the area and found the alleged driver, who was taken into custody without incident. The youth was later released to a guardian. The vehicle was towed from the scene.
RCMP warning to parents and the community
Operations officer Donovan Tait emphasised the gravity of the situation, pointing to the combination of excessive speed and an inexperienced, unlicensed operator as a serious hazard.
“Speeds more than double the posted limit, combined with an inexperienced and unlicensed driver, create an extreme risk to everyone using our roads. Fortunately, no one was injured,”
Tait said the incident should remind parents and guardians to secure vehicle keys and to have conversations with young people about the consequences of taking a vehicle without permission.
Timeline and known facts
The RCMP release lays out the basic chronology of the incident. Details available to the public at this time are limited to what officers reported in their initial statement; the investigation remains ongoing and charges are described as possible.
| When | What | Known outcome |
|---|---|---|
| ~2 a.m., July 25 | Vehicle observed at 118 km/h (50 km/h zone) on Terminal Ave; fled from attempted stop | Officer discontinued stop; other units notified |
| Shortly after | Vehicle reported off roadway in central Nanaimo; located by police | Vehicle damaged and towed; no injuries reported |
| After | Alleged driver located and arrested | Youth released to guardian; possible charges pending |
Local context and implications
The incident underscores two recurring concerns for Nanaimo neighbourhoods: the risks posed by high-speed driving through residential and commercial corridors, and the challenge of keeping keys and vehicles secure from young people who may not appreciate the danger. Terminal Avenue is a major arterial route that passes through busy sections of the city; excessive speed there raises collision risk for other drivers, pedestrians and cyclists.
While RCMP have not disclosed the specific charges being considered, the combination of alleged theft of a motor vehicle, dangerous driving and flight from police typically draws scrutiny because of public safety implications. The fact that no injuries were reported in this case is fortunate, but police messaging reflects concern that outcomes could have been far worse.
- Parents and guardians are urged to secure vehicle keys and have clear rules about access.
- Drivers and residents should report dangerous driving promptly to police, providing licence plates and locations when safe to do so.
- Community awareness campaigns and school conversations about road safety can help prevent similar incidents.
The Nanaimo RCMP continue to investigate the matter. Media inquiries were directed to the RCMP’s public information contacts in the initial release; no further details about the possible charges or follow-up court dates have been publicly released.
This episode arrives as communities across Vancouver Island grapple with how to reduce dangerous driving and keep young people safe while balancing parental responsibility and youth accountability. For now, police and community leaders say the episode should serve as a cautionary reminder about the stakes involved when inexperienced drivers take to busy city streets unsupervised.
