Manitoba First Nations Police Service’s detachment from Long Plain First Nation has announced charges against a 25-year-old woman after a flight from police resulted in a crash and serious injuries to a passenger.
According to police, they were called at about 1:30 AM on September 20 to the report of an impaired driver who was continually attending a residence in Long Plain First Nation. They arrived on-scene just over ten minutes later and found the suspect vehicle in the driveway.
Police allege that when they activated their emergency equipment the driver “accelerated towards Police before entering the roadway and fleeing the area at a high rate of speed, narrowly missing multiple police vehicles”. They lost sight of the vehicle, but found it again a short time later.
MFNPS officers said when they found the vehicle again it was in a field with significant damages and air bags deployed. They observed the suspect fleeing on foot, and apprehended her after a short foot chase.
Police found an adult female passenger in the front seat of the vehicle. They said she had serious injuries, including a possible break in her spine and fractured back. The driver was also found to have a possible fractured nose and swelling to her head. Medical services were provided and both occupants were transported to the Portage la Prairie hospital.
The driver, a 25-year-old female from Long Plain First Nation was arrested and later released from custody on an Undertaking and is facing the following charges:
· Flight from Peace Officer
· Impaired operation of a motor vehicle causing bodily harm
· Impaired operation of a motor vehicle
· Dangerous operation of a motor vehicle
As a result of the occupants receiving injuries, the Independent Investigations Unit (IIU) of Manitoba was notified as mandated and has begun an investigation.
