WHITBY, Ont. — A 31-year-old man has been charged after leading police on a chase going the wrong way on a major highway east of Toronto.
Durham Regional police said they received a call from provincial police about a possible drunk driver in a van on Highway 401 around 10 p.m. Wednesday in Whitby, Ont.
Officers found the van, which was reported stolen in York region, in a Tim Hortons parking lot, according to Sgt. Bill Calder.
The driver took off got on the highway as police cruisers followed, Calder alleged, but turned around on an off ramp and began driving the wrong way as he spotted police.
"Then the van struck the cruiser pursuing it, but no one was injured in that crash," said Calder.
Ministry of Transportation highway cameras captured part of the chase, which shows a white van driving on and off the highway's shoulder with squad cars in pursuit.
Calder said the situation was a difficult one for police.
"It is one of those situations where public safety is always paramount, but we can't disengage while this person is not having the same paramount feelings we are," Calder said.
"We are driving safely off to the side while he's in live lanes."
He said the van finally came to a stop in a swampy area after it hit a guard rail, but the man allegedly took off before being arrested nearby.
"It was very fortunate that no one was injured in the 401 — that is very, very dangerous activity," Calder said.
Jesse Teel, of Aurora, Ont., is scheduled to appear in court Thursday to face charges that include dangerous operation of a vehicle, possession of stolen property, failing to stop for police and driving without a licence.
