Toronto woman allegedly flees police in Oshawa, crashes into boulder

A Durham Regional Police car is shown in Bowmanville, Ont. on Tuesday Feb. 28, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Doug Ives

A Toronto woman is facing charges after she allegedly sped away from police in Oshawa and then crashed into a boulder.

In a news release issued Monday, police said an officer with the service’s RIDE (Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere) team was on protective patrol check near King Street West and Thornton Road South just after midnight on Friday when he initiated a traffic stop.

The suspect failed to stop, and police initiated a brief pursuit of the vehicle. Police said the officer stopped the chase after the suspect began driving at a “high rate of speed.”

“A short time later, officers located the suspect vehicle abandoned off the roadway near Park Road and Hillside Avenue after it collided with a large boulder,” they said.

Officers searched the area and found the driver was fleeing the scene on foot. She was taken into custody and transported to hospital with minor injuries.

Police said the driver was also wanted on several other charges at the time of her arrest.

Kathleen Mary Laffan, 39, was charged with fail to stop for police, dangerous operation of a conveyance, drive motor vehicle-fail to display two plates, drive motor vehicle—no licence, fail to remain at accident, fail to five required information, and obstruct peace officer.

She has since been released from police custody and an undertaking.

Police are asking anyone with information about the incident to contact cst. Ryerson of the Regional RIDE Unit at 1-888-579-1520 ext. 2938.