Four people were shocked by what the RCMP described as an “impatient driver” during a mission to raise awareness of residential schools in Mission on Saturday.
Two people were hospitalized for minor injuries, according to police.
The incident happened around 12:30 pm, while the second annual March for Recognition, organized by the Crazy Indian Brotherhoods, continued east on the Lowhide Highway to the site of the former St. Mary’s Residential School.
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Troy Ingraldi, who controlled the traffic for the hike, said the road was only one lane in each direction in the area and the pickup driver was angry about the delay.
This driver went around a few cars, signaled, tried to get around other cars, and he ran into us and was driving very fast, so I jumped in front and said, “Stop, stop, stop,” and he stopped and got out and he started screaming and screaming, “he said.
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Ingradley said the man got out of his truck and kept shouting at him, saying the group should get off the road and miss traffic.
When Ingraldi told the man to be patient, he said the driver was even angrier.
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“He said, ‘If I want to, I’ll drive everyone down this highway.’
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Ingraldi said that when the man returned to his truck, he stepped in front of the car to stop it. The man then went through it, knocking him to the ground, he said.
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“He started shouting and shouting more, and then he flew again and the children, the women and some of the boys in the fraternity had to jump out of the way,” he said.
The RCMP responded to the scene and confirmed that the driver had “contacted approximately four people”.
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“It seems that this driver was upset that his trip would be delayed by a few minutes and rushed in the opposite direction to try to get around the group,” he said. Harrison Moore said in a press release.
“When he collided with the oncoming traffic, he drove his car into the middle of the group while the cars passed, then pulled out and crossed again. In this way he struck several members of the March.
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Police said there was no indication that the driver’s actions were targeted or had anything to do with the cause for which the group was marching. Ingraldi said he could not talk about the driver’s motivation, but that he had only heard the man say he was angry that he had to wait.
Police did not detain, but said they had the driver’s registration number. Anyone with a video of the incident is urged to contact the RCMP mission at 604-826-7161.
Ingraldi said he was “angry and upset” about the incident, but that he emphasized the risks of trafficking every day on the road.
“I am glad that no one else was seriously injured, I am glad that no women or children were injured and I am glad that no adults were injured,” he added.
© 2022 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
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