Warning: This story contains details of self-inflicted harm that may be distressing.
A man was taken into custody and later sent to hospital in life-threatening condition following a multi-vehicle collision that led to a tense standoff in Saanich Thursday.
Police were called to the 3300-block of Cook Street just after noon for a report of a crash, only saying they later took one person into custody who was sent to hospital “with serious, life-threatening injuries.”
A witness told CHEK News that he saw the immediate aftermath of the crash.
Just after 12 p.m. today we responded to reports of a motor vehicle collision in the area of Cook St and Cloverdale Ave. Police later took one person into custody, who was transported to hospital with serious, life-threatening injuries.
— Saanich Police (@SaanichPolice) July 7, 2022
Norm Sedore was in his backyard when he heard crashing sounds and ran out to find three damaged vehicles, two of which appeared to have been parked and a third, a red Audi SUV, with its airbags deployed.
Sedore said he then approached the driver of the crashed Audi to see how he was doing.
“I pulled back the airbag on the driver’s side and then I was presented with a butcher’s knife,” he said, adding that the driver started swearing at him and told him to get away.
Sedore also noted that there was a black poodle in the back seat of the vehicle.
Police arriving at the scene confronted the man and tried to calm him down but he became more agitated, prompting police to use non-lethal rounds, Sedore said.
“It just seemed like it fired him up,” he said. The man then proceeded to harm himself with the knife and removed his clothing before he was struck with another round — police firing about 12 to 15 shots in total, according to Sedore.
The man eventually collapsed and was taken into custody, he said.
Officers said Cook Street between Maplewood Road and Salsbury Way would remain closed for “several hours” as they continued to investigate.
The Independent Investigations Office, B.C.’s police watchdog that investigates all police-involved incidents resulting in serious injury or death, confirmed it is also investigating the case.
The rear end of an SUV was also damaged in the crash. (CHEK News)
A third vehicle, seen on the left, was off the road in some nearby bushes. (CHEK News)
Jeff Lawrence
