A motorcyclist was arrested in Abbotsford late last month after a police helicopter tracked him weaving through traffic at speeds as high as 180 km/h, according to the Abbotsford Police Department. The incident began just after 3:30 p.m. on Oct. 28, when the RCMP’s Air 1 helicopter was conducting routine patrols, the Abbotsford department said in a news release Friday. The helicopter crew saw the motorcycle travelling east on Highway 1 in Surrey and alerted B.C. Highway Patrol officers, who attempted to make a traffic stop in Langley, police said. “The rider failed to stop and continued eastbound at excessive speeds,” the release reads. “Ground units disengaged while Air 1 maintained visual contact from the air.” Video shared with the release shows the motorcycle weaving through traffic, riding on the shoulder and entering highway construction zones. “Holy smokes,” the helicopter crew can be heard saying as the motorcyclist splits the narrow gap between two larger vehicles. At one point, the vehicle strikes a traffic pylon before continuing on its way. The motorcycle exited the highway in Abbotsford and entered Highstreet Shopping Centre, police said. He parked the motorcycle and fled on foot, but was soon apprehended by Abbotsford Police Department officers, who were already in the area. Police said they are recommending charges of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, flight from police, possession of stolen property and driving while prohibited against a 20-year-old Langley man. Police did not share the man’s name, and online court records suggest the charges have not yet been laid. “This arrest highlights the value of strong partnerships between law enforcement agencies,” said Abbotsford police Sgt. Paul Walker, in the release. “Through the co-ordinated efforts of RCMP Air 1, B.C. Highway Patrol, and AbbyPD officers on the ground, this dangerous situation was brought to a safe conclusion. Reckless driving at these speeds puts everyone on our roadways at risk. We want to remind motorists that road safety is a shared responsibility, and our agencies remain committed to working together to keep dangerous drivers off the road and our communities safe.”
