A Sicamous man wound up in hospital after a woman already on the run absconded with his truck.
On the morning of Monday, Feb. 21, Paul Backs of Yard Medics had stopped outside an office at 314 Finlayson Street on a routine, work-related visit. It was cold outside, and his red GMC pickup, with the Yard Medics logo marked on either side, was left unlocked and running. Paul's wife, Dawn Backs, said he was less than 10 feet away, with the truck clearly visible, when a Dodge pickup pulled alongside. A woman got out of the Dodge, ran into Paul's truck and attempted to drive away.
"She put it in reverse, and as he was trying to get her attention and stop her, she put it in drive, hit him and knocked him to the ground, and then put it in reverse and took off," said Dawn.
Paul was checked out by attending paramedics. But, said Dawn, after the shock had subsided, he realized that further medical attention was needed. Paul was taken to hospital and treated for minor injuries.
The Backs later learned that the suspect had been on the run. Earlier that morning, Sicamous RCMP were advised that a Dodge pickup had been reported stolen from a Vernon residence, and was seen in the area of Highway 97A and Swansea Point Road. According to Const. Pat Pyper, patrolling officers located the vehicle but the driver refused to stop.
"Police did not chase the truck as they did not want it racing through Sicamous," said Pyper.
The truck was located later that day south of Sicamous. The driver remains at large, and police are asking anyone with any information that might help identify the suspect to contact the Sicamous RCMP detachment at 250-836-2878, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.