A 13-year-old girl was behind the wheel of a family vehicle that police say was travelling more than twice the posted speed limit in Nanaimo before crashing into a ditch. The incident happened shortly after 2 a.m. on July 25. A Nanaimo RCMP officer spotted the vehicle travelling along Terminal Avenue at 118 km/h in a 50 km/h zone, according to police. By the time the officer turned around to attempt a traffic stop, the vehicle was no longer in sight. Reserve Const. Gary O’Brien, a media relations officer with Nanaimo RCMP, said police made the decision not to chase the vehicle because of the circumstances. “We certainly weren’t going to pursue because of the high speed, and the nature of the driving.” Police were alerted a short time later that the vehicle had crashed nearby. The driver had left the scene, but officers found the youth and arrested her. O’Brien said police were surprised to learn how young the alleged driver was. “A lot of shock on our part, a lot of dialogue with the parents.” The girl was the only person inside the vehicle. She was not injured, and police say there was no damage to any property. The vehicle had to be towed, although O’Brien said it was not considered a write-off. Police say the youth had taken the vehicle’s keys without the owner’s knowledge. The investigation is continuing, and RCMP have not decided whether the matter will result in criminal charges. O’Brien said police are considering the circumstances as a whole and are working with the family to determine the most appropriate response. “It could go informal. We have to look at the totality of the circumstances.” He said options could include restorative justice rather than a criminal prosecution. For parents and guardians, O’Brien said the incident is also a reminder to talk openly with young people about the consequences of taking a vehicle without permission. He acknowledged that people often leave their keys in familiar places at home but said a conversation with youth can be an important part of preventing something similar. “We’re just fortunate that nobody was injured and there’s continued dialogue with the parents and the youth.”
