INNIPEG — A Winnipeg man is accused of trying to kill his common-law wife by forcing her into his car and crashing the passenger side into a semi-trailer.
Police say the couple were arguing outside a nightclub at about 2 a.m. on New Year's Day when the 31-year-old man allegedly forced the 21-year-old woman into a car and drove off.
Police allege he assaulted and threatened her repeatedly while he drove, and then intentionally guided her side of the vehicle into a parked trailer.
He ran from the wreck, police allege, while she was trapped.
Emergency workers freed the woman with extraction equipment and police say she's in stable condition.
Christopher Rutherford, 31, was later arrested and faces charges that include attempted murder, kidnapping and several charges of failing to comply with a recognizance.
"There's no question, some unusual and pretty scary circumstances here," Const. Jason Michalyshen said on Sunday.
Michalyshen said one of charges the accused faces involves breaching a condition that prevented him from contacting the woman.
Rutherford remains in custody. A date for his next court appearance was not immediately available.
Michalyshen said investigators believe the vehicle was travelling fast when it hit the truck, but the woman appears to have been wearing a seatbelt.
"Her injuries, thankfully, were not life-threatening," Michalyshen said.
