Deer Lake -
Staff Sgt. Mark Hancock says it's fortunate his officers received a report of two vehicles tailgating and racing on Route 440 along the north shore of the Bay of Islands, but not so fortunate the suspects weren't apprehended.
The district commander for the Deer Lake area said officers at the Corner Brook detachment received a report of two vehicles passing each other along the highway near Meadows Thursday just after 6 p.m. A description of the vehicles was provided, but he said the witness wasn't able to identify the drivers or record the licence plate numbers.
A patrol of the area was unsuccessful in locating the vehicles.
Hancock said every year the RCMP gets a number of complaints of speeding and some complaints of racing. They have laid charges in the past.
"Anytime, we get these complaints, whether it be anonymous or with a named witness, we like to follow it as best we can to locate these vehicles and deal with it," he said.
Unfortunately, he says sometimes he doesn't get enough information, such as valid plate numbers or proper descriptions of vehicles, which makes the complaints difficult to follow up.
That is disturbing for Hancock because he views this type of reckless driving to be a serious criminal offence. He said, the culprits are often young and don't understand the magnitude of driving at high speeds, sometimes in less than ideal road conditions and without comprehension of the safety of others. Sometimes, he said, they can lose control of the vehicle which they have underestimated.
"When you get into these types of situations, it is very dangerous because law-abiding citizens driving on the road, doing the speed limit, have to also look out for everyone else to make sure someone else is not going to do something to them," he said.
It can pose increasing dangers in an area such as the north shore because there are communities, with residences and schools, located on the highway. These areas have more pedestrians than other highways.
Perhaps the most high-profile case involving such an incident is when 22-year-old Matthew Whitehorne lost control of his car, while he and Joanne Lovell were passing each other at high speeds on the north shore in May 2008. Whitehorne and a passenger sustained injuries, with the passenger suffering serious leg and head injuries.
The young man and woman were originally charged with street racing, but Whitehorne ultimately pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing bodily harm and was sentenced to six months house arrest, 12 months probation, and a four-year driving prohibition. Lovell pleaded guilty to two lesser traffic offences and was fined a total of $780.
