A suspected impaired driver is in custody after crashing into a school bus.

Late this afternoon, around 3:40 p.m., Burnaby RCMP frontline officers responded to a hit and run that had occurred on the street in front of Montecito Elementary in Burnaby.

The suspect vehicle, a silver coloured sedan, was reported to have struck a moving school bus belonging to a nearby Catholic school, with children on board.

Fortunately, none of the children or the driver were injured.

A short time later, Burnaby RCMP Youth Section located a possible suspect vehicle near the Burnaby Mountain Golf Course. A 20-year-old Burnaby man has since been arrested and taken into custody. The suspect driver is believed to have been impaired by drugs. The Burnaby RCMP will be recommending Motor Vehicle Act charges as well as criminal, impaired driving, drug trafficking and weapon possession charges.

A large quantity of cash, illicit drugs and several weapons have since been seized as a result of the investigation.

Our Burnaby RCMP Youth Section have been in close conversation with the schools involved, said Cpl. Brett Cunningham. Our primary concern is the safety of the children and the public. Our Youth Section officers are continuing to investigate the reason for the suspect to have been outside the school and will remain in close contact with school administrators. We will not tolerate this dangerous behaviour in our communities, especially when children are put at risk. 

Anyone who was witness or has with information on the suspect is asked to call Burnaby RCMP at 604-646-9999. Information can also be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at solvecrime.ca.